SGER: Differential Expression of Hypodynamic Genes in Hibernating vs. Non-hibernating Animals

本提案的最终目标是确定哺乳动物冬眠准备和诱导的分子基础。这种最初的方法包括鉴定在仓鼠冬眠前和冬眠期间表达改变的下丘脑基因。该方法基于以下假设：哺乳动物冬眠的诱导是由于中枢和/或外周产热和/或热损失调节因子的神经/神经分泌信号的改变，而这些信号的改变反映了基因表达的改变。考虑到下丘脑的调节作用和产热组织（如棕色脂肪）的变化，这一假设是合理的，因为探测冬眠过程相当困难。

The ultimate goal of this proposal is to identify the molecular basis underlying preparation for and induction of hibernation in mammals. This initial approach involves identification of hypothalamic genes whose expression is changed in hamsters before vs during a bout of hibernation. This approach is based on the hypothesis that induction of hibernation in mammals results from altered neural/neurosecretory signaling to central and/or peripheral regulators/effectors of thermogenesis and/or heat loss AND that these alterations in signalling reflect altered gene expression. While this hypothesis is reasonable considering the regulatory role played by the hypothalamus and the changes in thermogenic tissues such as brown fat that considerable difficulty in detecting the hibernation process.