Metabolismo energético e resposta ao jejum do morcego hematófago Diphylla ecaudata

AUTOR(ES)

Carolinne Isabella Dias Gomes

DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2008

RESUMO

It has been demonstrated that mammals fed with protein-rich diets are more resistant to fasting. However, the hematophagous bat Desmodus rotundus exhibits high susceptibility when subjected to food deprivation, though its diet is rich in proteins. This study investigated whether the hematophagous bat Diphylla ecaudata also shows fragility in response to fasting. In order to answer this question, the concentrations of plasmatic glucose and free fatty acids (FFA), total fatty acids from carcass, glycogen, lipids and protein total concentrations in the liver and breast muscle in bats were determined in fed (FED) and 24-h (F24) and 36-h (F36) fasted individuals. Plasma glucose levels in FED and F24 bats were similar to other mammals, but after a 36 h without food these levels were markedly reduced. Plasma FFA levels in FED bats were higher than in other mammals and remained unaltered following a 24-h fasting. Liver glycogen content decreased significantly during fasting. The protein and lipid reserves were not modified in response to fasting. Our results suggest that glucose and plasmatic FFA of D. ecaudata could have an exogenous source, probably from the glucose content of the blood of its prey (pigeons). However, the contribution of the hepatic glycogen reserves of D. ecaudata to the maintenance of glucose homeostasis in response to a 24-h fasting can not be discarded. Despite the decrease in liver glycogen, D. ecaudata is unable to keep their plasma glucose at adequate levels for mammal survival after only 36 h of food deprivation, suggesting the inefficiency of mechanisms usually present at fasting, such as gluconeogenesis. Low energy reserves found in FED bats and/or the absence of protein and lipid mobilization in fasting seem to corroborate our hypothesis and suggest that a hematophagous diet could be associated with high susceptibility in response to food shortage.

ASSUNTO(S)

metabolismo energético jejum diphylla ecaudata morcego-vampiro de pernas peludas ciencias da saude dieta rica em proteínas

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