Abstract

Some of the most critical changes accompanying daily torpor are those governing energy supply and demand. The purpose of this study was to compare gluconeogenic and glycolytic enzyme maximal activities in brain and liver during the daily torpor cycle in deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus). Liver gluconeogenic and glycolytic enzyme maximal activities decreased significantly during torpor, coinciding with previous studies demonstrating reductions in liver metabolism. The five-fold increase in liver gluconeogenic enzyme activities during arousal may allow for glucose synthesis for immediate use by glucose-reliant tissues. Limited reductions in brain glycolytic enzyme activities during daily torpor indicate that the potential for carbohydrate metabolism in brain remains high in dormancy. Brain gluconeogenic enzymes had significantly higher activities during torpor and after arousal as compared to pre-torpor values. These findings suggest that an increase in brain gluconeogenic capacity is an important mechanism for maintaining carbohydrate metabolic function during daily torpor in deer mice.

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