小型哺乳动物的温感TRPs 通道及其在体温调节中的作用

全球变暖对动物和人类的生存造成严重威胁和挑战。动物面对环境温度的变化须进行相应生理功能的调节以维持内环境稳定。环境温度对野生动物各种生理功能的影响已有很多研究，但关于动物如何感知和传递温度信号，从而影响和调节相关生理功能的机理仍不知晓。温度敏感离子通道 (thermal sensitive transient receptor potential, thermoTRP) 被证明具有感知温度的功能。本项目在多年研究积累的基础上，拟通过比较内蒙古草原同域分布的昼行性的长爪沙鼠和布氏田鼠与夜行性的小毛足鼠等各组织器官中TRPs表达的季节性和昼夜节律变化，确定TRPs在季节性和昼夜体温调节中的作用，然后通过人工提高动物体温、采用抑制剂处理和钙成像等技术手段，对TRPs的体温调节信号作用和生理功能进行验证。研究发现将加深对野生动物体温调节机理的认识，发展温度生理学理论，同时对人类的生存有启发意义。

Global warming poses a serious threat and challenge to the survival of animals and human beings. Facing the changing in environmental temperature, animals have to adjust their physiological functions to keep stable body temperature and maintain homeostasis. There have been many studies on the effects of ambient temperatures on various physiological functions of wild animals, but how animals perceive and transmit the temperature signals and then to regulate related physiological functions is still not clear. Temperature-sensitive transient receptor potential (TRP) ion channels have been reported to sense temperatures. We aim to determine the roles of TRPs in seasonal and circadian body temperature regulation by comparing the seasonal and circadian rhythm changes of TRPs expression in tissues and organs of Mongolian gerbils (diurnal), Brandt’s voles (diurnal) and Desert hamsters (nocturnal). Then the thermoregulation signal and physiological function of TRPs were validated by means of inhibitor processing and calcium imaging. The research findings will deepen the understanding of the mechanism of temperature regulation in wild animals, develop relevant theories in thermal physiology, and have enlightening significance for human survival.