Wang Jian-Mei Ph.D.: 2003－2006 Supervisors: Prof. Wang De-Hua and Zhang Yan-Ming Present affiliation: Bioloccial company E-mail: weimayer@vip.sina.com

Thesis
　　Seasonal regulations and influence factors in energy metabolism, thermogenic capacity and body mass in plateau pikas and root voles from the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

Research interest
　　Body mass regulation and energy metabolism in small mammals

Main results
　　Both plateau pikas and root voles depend on physiological regulations to adapt to seasonal environment. Thermogenic capacity was enhanced to cope with cold winter, and energy intake was increased to compensate for the high energy requirement in winter in the two species. Short photoperiod was effective to induce decrease in body mass and increases in energy metabolism and thermogeneis in root voles, while plateau pikas were not sensitive to photoperiodic acclimation. Food-restricted plateau pikas and root voles could reduce energy expenditure by decreasing BMR and NST. Plateau pikas showed different regulations in body mass at different altitudes. Serum leptin level was involved in the regulation in body mass, energy metabolism and thermogeneis in plateau pikas and root voles. Changes in COX activity and UCP1 content in BAT were the cellular and molecular basis for NST.

Publications

1. Wang JM, Zhang YM, Wang DH. Seasonal thermogenesis and body mass regulation in plateau pikas (Ochotona curzoniae).2006. Oecologia. 149(3):373-82.
2. Wang JM, Zhang YM, Wang DH. Seasonal regulations of energetics, serum concentrations of leptin, and uncoupling protein 1 content of brown adipose tissue in root voles (Microtus oeconomus) from the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau. 2006. J Comp Physiol B. 176(7):663-71.
3. Wang JM, Zhang YM, Wang DH. Photoperiodic regulation in energy intake, thermogenesis and body mass in root voles (Microtus oeconomus). 2006. Comp Biochem Physiol A. 145(4):546-553.