Seasonal acclimatization in water flux rate, urine osmolality and kidney water channels in free-living degus

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dc.contributor.authorBozinovic, F
dc.contributor.authorGallardo, PA
dc.contributor.authorVisser, GH
dc.contributor.authorCortés, A
dc.date.accessioned2025-01-21T01:08:58Z
dc.date.available2025-01-21T01:08:58Z
dc.date.issued2003
dc.description.abstractThe environmental modification of an organism's physiology in the field is often hypothesized to be responsible for allowing an organism to adjust to changing biotic and abiotic environmental conditions through increases in biological performance. Here, we examine the phenotypic flexibility of water flux rate, urine osmolality and the expression of kidney aquaporins (AQP; or water channels) in free-ranging Octodon degus, a South American desert-dwelling rodent, through an integrative study at cellular, systemic and organismal levels. Water flux rates varied seasonally and were significantly lower in austral summer than in winter, while urine osmolality was higher in summer than during winter. The observed water influx rate during summer was 10.3+/-2.3 ml day(-1) and during winter was 40.4+/-9.1 ml day(-1). Mean urine osmolality was 3137 +/- 472 mosmol kg(-1) during summer and 1123 +/- 472 mosmol kg(-1) during winter. AQP-2 medullary immunolabeling was more abundant in the kidneys of degus captured during summer than those captured during winter. This immunoreactivity was higher in apical cell membranes of medullary collecting ducts of degus in summer. AQP-1 immunostaining did not differ between seasons. Consistently, AQP-2 protein levels were increased in medulla from the summer individuals, as judged by the size of the 29 kDa band in the immunoblot. Here, we reveal how the integration of flexible mechanisms acting at cellular, systemic and organismal levels allows a small desert-dwelling mammal to cope with seasonal water scarcity in its semi-arid habitat.
dc.fuente.origenWOS
dc.identifier.doi10.1242/jeb.00509
dc.identifier.eissn1477-9145
dc.identifier.issn0022-0949
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.00509
dc.identifier.urihttps://repositorio.uc.cl/handle/11534/96531
dc.identifier.wosidWOS:000187393100014
dc.issue.numero17
dc.language.isoen
dc.pagina.final2966
dc.pagina.inicio2959
dc.revistaJournal of experimental biology
dc.rightsacceso restringido
dc.subjectacclimatization
dc.subjectarid environment
dc.subjectwater economy
dc.subjectrodent
dc.subjectaquaporin
dc.subjectdegu
dc.subjectOctodon degus
dc.subject.ods15 Life on Land
dc.subject.ods13 Climate Action
dc.subject.odspa15 Vida de ecosistemas terrestres
dc.subject.odspa13 Acción por el clima
dc.titleSeasonal acclimatization in water flux rate, urine osmolality and kidney water channels in free-living degus
dc.typeartículo
dc.volumen206
sipa.indexWOS
sipa.trazabilidadWOS;2025-01-12
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