Effect of photoperiod and ambient temperature on nonshivering thermogenesis of Peromyscus maniculatus

Abstract

, 1988: Effect of photoperiod and ambient temperature on nonshivering thermogenesis of Peromyscus maniculatus. Acta theriol., 33, 19: 273-281 [With 1 Table) Deermice were exposed to photoperiods simulating either early winter photoperiod ("winter replicates") or early spring photoperiod ("spring replicates") before experiencing 14-day treatment periods designed to assess the effects of ambient temperature and photoperiod on nonshivering thermogenesis (NST). These treatments consisted of the four combinations of low (5°C) or high (25°C) temperatures and short (8L : 16D) or long (16L : 8D) photoperiod. In both winter and spring replicates, only those mice exposed to both low temperature and short photoperiod experienced significantly elevated levels of NST. In the spring replicates, those mice exposed to both high temperature and long photoperiod experienced significant loss of NST. These results support the hypothesis that photoperiod and ambient temperature interact to trigger changes in NST.