Comparative analysis of naked mole-rat thermogenesis and its potential to maintain euthermia in response to cold

Abstract The naked mole-rat (NMR) is a subterranean rodent known for its unique thermal biology, exceptional longevity and resistance to cancer and hypoxia. However, its thermal biology remains controversial, with various reports describing NMRs as poikilotherms, heterotherms, mesotherms or partial homeotherms. Here, we investigated whether the thermogenic potential of NMR brown adipose tissue and its UCP1 differ from those in mice and whether the lack of thermal insulation causes extreme changes in NMR body temperature upon cold exposure. Through longitudinal molecular, thermal, metabolic, and behavioral measurements, we found that NMRs initiated non-shivering thermogenesis and elevated body temperature but could not sustain it due to excessive heat loss and limits to substrate availability. Our results suggest that NMRs represent a unique…