Journal of Neuroendocrinology, 2016, 28, 10.1111/jne.12437REVIEW ARTICLE? 2016 British Society for NeuroendocrinologySeasonal Control of Mammalian Energy Balance: Recent Advances in theUnderstanding of Daily Torpor and Hibernation

摘要

Endothermic mammals and birds require intensive energy turnover to sustain high body temper-atures and metabolic rates. To cope with the energetic bottlenecks associated with the changeof seasons, and to minimise energy expenditure, complex mechanisms and strategies are used,such as daily torpor and hibernation. During torpor, metabolic depression and low body temper-atures save energy. However, these bouts of torpor, lasting for hours to weeks, are interruptedby active ‘euthermic’ phases with high body temperatures. These dynamic transitions requireprecise communication between the brain and peripheral tissues to defend rheostasis in ener-getics, body mass and body temperature. The hypothalamus appears to be the major controlcentre in the brain, coordinating energy metabolism and body temperature. The sympatheticnervous system controls body temperature by adjustments of shivering and nonshivering ther-mogenesis, with the latter being primarily executed by brown adipose tissue. Over the last dec-ade, comparative physiologists have put forward integrative studies on the ecophysiology,biochemistry and molecular regulation of energy balance in response to seasonal challenges,food availability and ambient temperature. Mammals coping with such environments compriseexcellent model organisms for studying the dynamic regulation of energy metabolism. Beyondthe understanding of how animals survive in nature, these studies also uncover general mecha-nisms of mammalian energy homeostasis. This research will bene?t efforts of translational medi-cine aiming to combat emerging human metabolic disorders. The present review focuses onrecent advances in the understanding of energy balance and its neuronal and endocrine controlduring the most extreme metabolic ?uctuations in nature: daily torpor and hibernation.