Body Temperature during Hibernation Is Highly Correlated with a Decrease in Circulating Innate Immune Cells in the Brown Bear (Ursus arctos): A Common Feature among Hibernators?

Abstract

Conclusions: Bears have fewer innate immune cells in circulation during hibernation, which may represent a suppressed innate immune system. Across species comparison suggests that, both in small and large hibernators, Tb is the main driver of immune function regulation during winter dormancy. The lack of a difference in lymphocyte counts in this context requires further investigations.

Keywords

Brown bear; Ursus arctos; Hibernation; Innate immunity; Leukocytes; Torpor

Published in

International Journal of Medical Sciences
2013, volume: 10, number: 5, pages: 508-514
Publisher: IVYSPRING INT PUBL

SLU Authors

• Arnemo, Jon

  • Department of Wildlife, Fish and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Other Veterinary Science
Ecology

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.7150/ijms.4476

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/55282