Low energy reserves are associated with fasting susceptibility in Neotropical nectar bats Glossophaga soricina

Amaral, Thales Simioni; Pinheiro, Eliana C.; Freitas, Mariella Bontempo; Aguiar, Ludmilla M. S.

doi:10.1590/1519-6984.169674

Cited by 5 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…This deletion is predicted to interfere with transcriptional repressors to enhance gene activity. While we did not observe a significant increase in Slc2a2 expression in Carollia and Artibeus at the level of the enterocyte, it might be altered in the liver cells, where Slc2a2 is also expressed, and might explain their increased liver glycogen stores compared to nectar bats (Pinheiro et al 2006; Amaral et al 2018). Future studies on tissue-specific gene regulation are needed to uncover mechanisms of evolutionary change across species.…”

Section: Resultscontrasting

confidence: 83%

“…This suggests that neurons of vampire bats and nectar bats favor glucose uptake to meet the metabolic demands related to neuronal activity, probably associated with their unique locomotor activity (Ripperger & Carter, 2021;C. C. Voigt & Winter, 1999), foraging behavior ( Winter & Stich, 2005;Ross & Holderied, 2013;Muchhala & Serrano, 2015;Ripperger & Carter, 2021), and sensitivity to starvation (McNab, 1973;Freitas et al, 2013;Amaral et al, 2019). Adding to this, we found positive selection in the gene Slc2a1 in the nectar bat Anoura caudifer, which is enriched in brain astrocytes responsible for maintaining synaptic function.…”

Section: Molecular Adaptations Related To Sugar Assimilationmentioning

confidence: 58%

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Sugar assimilation underlying dietary evolution of Neotropical bats

Camacho¹,

Bernal-Rivera²,

Robb³

et al. 2023

Preprint

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Specializations in animal diets drive selective demands on morphology, anatomy, and physiology. Studying adaptations linked to diet evolution benefits from examining Neotropical bats, a remarkable group with high taxonomic and trophic diversity. In this study we performed glucose tolerance tests on wild-caught bats, which revealed distinct responses to three sugars present in different foods: trehalose (insects), sucrose and glucose (fruits and nectar). Insect eating bats responded most strongly to trehalose, while bats with nectar and fruit-based diets exhibited heightened response to glucose and sucrose, reaching blood sugar levels over 600 mg/dL. To reveal positive selection in sugar assimilation genes we performed genome analysis of 22 focal bat species and 2 outgroup species. We identified selection in the ancestral vespertilionid branch (insect-eaters) for the digestive enzyme Trehalase, while sucrase-isomaltase exhibited selection in branches leading to omnivorous and nectar diets. Unexpectedly, the insect-eating lineageMyotisexhibited sucrase-isomaltase selection, potentially explaining their heightened sucrose assimilation. Furthermore, the glucose transporters SLC2A3 and SLC2A2 showed selection in lineages associated with nectar and blood diets. By examining cellular features of the small intestine, we discovered that sugar consumption strongly impacted numerous digestive traits, providing valuable insight into the physiological implications of the identified molecular adaptations. To elucidate this further, we used HCR RNA-FISH to perform single molecule ex vivo gene expression analysis of enterocyte response to a glucose meal in three focal species. We observed unusually high activity in the glucose transporter geneSlc2a2during the fasted state of nectar bats that did not change upon feeding. Comparatively, nectar bats exhibited an enhanced capacity for intestinal absorption of dietary sugar primarily throughSlc2a2, while fruit bats relied on increasing levels ofSlc5a1. Overall, this study highlights the intricate interplay between molecular, morphological, and physiological aspects of diet evolution and provides new insights to our understanding of sugar assimilation mechanisms in mammals.

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Section: Resultscontrasting

confidence: 83%

Section: Molecular Adaptations Related To Sugar Assimilationmentioning

confidence: 58%

Sugar assimilation underlying dietary evolution of Neotropical bats

Camacho¹,

Bernal-Rivera²,

Robb³

et al. 2023

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Heterogeneity in the preferential diet of neotropical bats impacts the pancreatic islet mass and α and β cell distribution

Contini,

Cruz,

Althoff

et al. 2024

General and Comparative Endocrinology

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Two in one: the little bat that pollinates and disperses plants at an urban site in Southeastern Brazil

Sazima

2022

Biota Neotrop.

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The glossophagine Pallas’s long-tongued bat (Glossophaga soricina) fares well in urban environments across its range. In addition to roost sites, there are nectar and fruit sources available in diverse situations across the urban gradient. Phyllostomid bats that thrive in urbanized situations are behaviorally plastic generalists and rely on patches of ornamental or feral plants as food sources. Herein we report on G. soricina and its food sources at an urbanized site in Southeastern Brazil. This small phyllostomid bat consumes nectar from landscaping ornamental plants, besides consuming the soft pulp along with the tiny seeds of pioneer trees and shrubs. In addition to these natural sources, the bat exploits hummingbird feeders to consume the sugared water. Ingested small seeds are defecated in flight, the bat acting as a disperser of pioneer plants that favor cleared areas. Glossophaga soricina role as flower-pollinator and seed-disperser at Neotropical urban areas merits further attention due both to the maintenance of urban biodiversity and delivery of ecosystem services.

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Low energy reserves are associated with fasting susceptibility in Neotropical nectar bats Glossophaga soricina

Cited by 5 publications

References 22 publications

Sugar assimilation underlying dietary evolution of Neotropical bats

Sugar assimilation underlying dietary evolution of Neotropical bats

Heterogeneity in the preferential diet of neotropical bats impacts the pancreatic islet mass and α and β cell distribution

Two in one: the little bat that pollinates and disperses plants at an urban site in Southeastern Brazil

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