Frequency modulated timer regulates mammalian hibernation

Abstract Mammalian hibernators decrease basal metabolism and body temperature (Tb) to minimize energy expenditure in harsh seasons. During hibernation, Tb drops to low temperature (<10 °C) and remains constant for days, known as deep torpor in small mammalian hibernators. Spontaneous interbout arousals interrupt torpor bouts, when Tb recovers to euthermic state ~37 °C. Torpor-interbout arousal event repeats during several months of hibernation. However, little is known about mechanisms governing Tb fluctuation across torpor-interbout arousal cycles during hibernation. Recent improvement in data-logging techniques enables us to monitor Tb for more than hundred days with high precision, opening up new avenues for quantitative analysis to address the principle governing Tb fluctuation. Here, we analyzed Tb fluctuation across torpor-interbout arousal cycle of Syrian hamster, which can hibernate in response to chronic cold and short photoperiod under a laboratory condition, using generalized harmonic analysis and discovered a model with frequency modulation quantitatively reproducing Tb fluctuation. This analysis also identified an unexpectedly longer period of 120–430 days as the period that modulates another period of several days, generating Tb fluctuation for Syrian hamster. We propose that concerted action of two endogenous periods governs torpor-interbout arousal cycles during hibernation.