Hibernation strategy related profound differences in the whole-body fat composition of bats

0575307 - ÚBO 2024 RIV CZ eng J - Journal Article
Bachorec, Erik - Pikula, J. - Seidlová, Veronika - Zukalová, K. - Zukal, Jan
Hibernation strategy related profound differences in the whole-body fat composition of bats.
Journal of Vertebrate Biology. Roč. 72, č. 23036 (2023), č. článku 23036. E-ISSN 2694-7684
Institutional support: RVO:68081766
Keywords : energy reserves * fatty acids * pufa * mufa * sfa
OECD category: Zoology
Impact factor: 1.5, year: 2022
Method of publishing: Open access
https://bioone.org/journalArticle/Download?urlId=10.25225%2Fjvb.23036

Bats can use a wide range of roosts as hibernacula, resulting in diverse hibernation strategies. The ecological needs of a species during hibernation translate into particular torpor-arousal patterns and physiological demands. For mammalian hibernators, the oxidation of fatty acids from triacylglycerols stored in white and brown adipocytes provides the main energy to fuel hibernation. The relative content of saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fatty acids in body fat brings multifarious costs and benefits, and their importance during hibernation is likely changing. While considering the level of fatty acid saturation and their properties, we hypothesised that whole-body fat composition varies between bat species (Nyctalus noctula, Myotis myotis) that employ different hibernation strategies. Therefore, the focus of this study was to determine the relative fatty acid composition of the whole-body fat of these species. We found evidence that the body fat of N. noctula has a higher relative content of MUFAs than M. myotis, which, on the other hand, has high SFAs and PUFAs. Such profound differences in fatty acid profiles suggest that the studied species' distinct hibernation strategies and torpor-arousal patterns are reflected in functional differences.
Permanent Link: https://hdl.handle.net/11104/0345084