Rapid cold-hardening in larvae of the Antarctic midge Belgica antarctica: cellular cold-sensing and a role for calcium

摘要

rapid cold-hardening (RCH), which allows many insects to significantly enhance their cold tolerance, was first described in freeze-susceptible insects more than 20 years ago (8, 29). While most cold acclimation processes occur over days, weeks, or even months, RCH drastically enhances cold tolerance after only a brief exposure to moderately low temperatures. In addition to protecting insects against chilling injury, RCH also improves courtship and reproduction (50, 52). Furthermore, RCH occurs during ecologically relevant diurnal temperature cycles, allowing insects to track daily changes hi temperature (24, 25). Thus it appears that RCH is part of a generalized acclimatory response that allows insects to adjust rapidly to changes in their environment.