Many mammals show extreme morphological and physiological adaptations to overcome seasonal energy shortages. Our aim is to decipher how different exogenous and endogenous factors are integrated in the brain to control energy saving strategies.
We use Djungarian dwarf hamsters as a well-known model to study the seasonal regulation of body weight and torpor, a temporary decrease in metabolism with enormous energy saving potential.
Our research focusses on
the structure and function of torpor-relevant areas in the hypothalamus
the influence of glucose metabolism on torpor expression
Publications
Seasonal changes in activity of hypothalamic thyroid hormone system in different winter phenotypes of Siberian hamster (Phodopus sungorus).
Przybylska-Piech AS, Diedrich V, Herwig A. PLoS ONE. 2024;19(10):e0309591. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0309591xx
Transcriptomics of the garden dormouse hypothalamus during hibernation.
Haugg E, Borner J, Stalder G, Kübber-Heiss A, Giroud S, Herwig A. FEBS Open Bio. 2023;14(2):241-257. doi: 10.1002/2211-5463.13731
The role of glucose in daily torpor of Djungarian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus): challenge of continuous in vivo blood glucose measurements.
Diedrich V, Haugg E, Van Hee J, Herwig A. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2023;325:R359-R379. doi: 10.1152/ajpregu.00040.2023
Gene expression analysis and microdialysis suggest hypothalamic triiodothyronine (T3) gates daily torpor in Djungarian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus).
Bank JHH, Cubuk C, Wilson D, Rijntjes E, Kemmling J, Markovsky H, Barrett P, Herwig AJ. Comp Physiol B. 2017;187(5-6):857-868. doi: 10.1007/s00360-017-1086-5
The circadian clock stops ticking during deep hibernation in the European hamster.
Revel FG, Herwig A, Garidou ML, Dardente H, Menet JS, Masson-Pévet M, Simonneaux V, Saboureau M, Pévet P. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2007;104(34):13816-13820. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0704699104. PMID: 17715068
