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KMID : 1204320080240040585
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Laboratory Animal Research
2008 Volume.24 No. 4 p.585 ~ p.591
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The Thermophysiologically Characteristic Research of the Pika (Acclimatization to High-altitude), the Rabbit and the Rat
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Lee Jeong-Beom
Takaaki Matsumoto
Min Young-Ki
Yang Hun-Mo
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Abstract
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Pikas inhabiting cold zones or high altitudes in the mountains are thought to be adapted to both the cold as well as to the high-altitude. However, the heat tolerance to heat exposure and insulative cold defenses in pikas has not been previously studied. Whether pikas have a circadian rhythm is controversial based on field observations. Comparisons of the ear to body surface area ratio of the rabbits, rats and pikas, has shown that the pikas have smaller ratios than the rabbits (P＜0.001). Comparison of the body weights and blood glucose levels of the rabbits, rats and pikas, has shown that the pikas have lower levels than the rabbits (P＜0.01). Comparison of the body temperatures of rabbits, rats and pikas, showed that the pikas had higher levels than the rabbits and rats (P＜0.01). Comparison of the red blood cell count of the rabbits, rats and pikas, showed that the pikas had higher counts than the rabbits and rats (P＜0.001). Therefore, autonomic characteristics including high body temperature, high metabolism and a poor heat loss ability such as poor panting and small ear pinnae were noted. In addition, it has been observed that behavioral characteristics including the fact that pikas live in burrows under the ground or in the shelter among rocks and hoard grasses for winter food to survive the winters. In conclusion, the pikas adapt to the cold not only ecologically and autonomically but also as a result of insulating cold defense mechanisms. Additional research is needed to better understand the absence of circadian body temperature rhythm in the pikas, which might also advance our understanding of circadian rhythm.
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KEYWORD
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Acclimatization, thermophysiological characteristics, body temperature
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