Previous Articles     Next Articles

Seasonal changes in body temperature and organs of Amur hedgehog (Erinaceus amurensis) during nonhibernation period

GAO Ling,GUO Bingran,WANG Zhenlong,JIANG Le,LIU Dan,LONG Di   

  1. College of Life Sciences,Qufu Normal University,Qufu 273165,China
  • Online:2010-08-31 Published:2010-03-02

东北刺猬非冬眠期体温和内脏器官重量的季节性变化

高玲, 郭炳冉, 王振龙, 江乐, 刘丹, 龙娣   

  1. (曲阜师范大学生命科学学院,曲阜 273165

Abstract: Both body temperature and organs of heterothermic animals such as Amur hedgehog(Erinaceus amurensis) show phenotypic plasticity,which is in turn related to their environmental living conditions. To further understand the seasonal adaptive strategy for Amur hedgehog,we measured the sexual and seasonal variations in body temperature and of masses of reproduction-related organs of Amur hedgehogs trapped alive in mountainous areas in Southeast Shandong Province,with a goal of comprehending adaptation of this animal to seasonal ambiance. The results showed that:1)body temperatures in both male and female were highest in summer,and were significantly positively correlated with ambient temperature;2)the relative fatness in both genders were highest in spring,and lowest in fall;3)for females,the uterine mass was highest in spring,while lowest in fall;for males,testis mass was highest in spring,and lowest in fall;epididymis mass was highest in summer,and lowest in fall;the spleen mass in both the sexes were highest in fall,and lowest in summer;for females,adrenal was highest in spring,and lowest in fall,while for males it was highest in fall,and lowest in summer;there was no significant difference between genders in both adrenal and spleen mass;and 4)the heart rate of females was higher than that of males,but no significant seasonal differences were observed;all the waves of electrocardiogram did not show sexual difference,but there were significant differences among spring,summer and fall. There were no sexual differences but,significant seasonal differences in physiological parameters,and the duration of QRS complex and T wave were longest in fall,S - T interval was the opposite. As a heterothermic animal,the body temperature range of Amur hedgehog was larger than that for rodents,but both of them showed the same patterns in seasonal change of reproductive related organs. The heart rate of Amur hedgehog was not correlated with body temperature during the non-hibernation period,and cardiac function was little influenced by seasonal change as inferred from electrocardiogram. The plasticity of body temperature,relative fatness,masses of spleen,testis and epididymis,and uterus may play important roles in the adaptation of Amur hedgehog to changable environments.

Key words: Amur hedgehog(Erinaceus amurensis), Body temperature, Nonhibernation period, Reproductive and related organs, Seasonality

摘要: 异温动物的体温和内脏器官重量与其所处的环境密切相关,具有一定的可塑性。本文以活捕于鲁西南山区的东北刺猬为对象,比较了其体温和内脏器官的性别差异和季节变化,旨在了解其对环境的适应性特征。结果表明:1)东北刺猬的体温以夏季最高,且与环境温度呈正相关关系,但性别间无差异;2)东北刺猬的肥满度指数以春季最高,秋季最低,亦无性别差异;3)东北刺猬的内脏器官重量与体重呈显著的正相关关系,雌雄脾脏重量以春季最大,夏季最小;4)季节与性别间交互作用对肾上腺重量的影响显著,雄体睾丸和附睾秋季最轻,雌体子宫则秋季最轻;5)雌体心率显著高于雄体,无季节性差异;非冬眠期心电图中各个波持续时间无性别差异,QRS 波群和T 波的持续时间在秋季显著长于夏季和春季,S - T 段相反,秋季最短。本文研究结果提示:东北刺猬非冬眠期的心率与体温变化无关,心脏功能受季节变化影响较小。体温、肥满度、脾脏、睾丸和附睾、子宫、心电等生理指标的可塑性对于东北刺猬适应环境具有重要意义。

关键词: 东北刺猬, 非冬眠期, 体温, 内脏器官, 季节性