Supercooling in reptiles and other vertebrates

Lowe, Charles H.; Lardner, Peter J.; Halpern, E. Annette

doi:10.1016/0300-9629(71)90352-5

Cited by 55 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…However, it is commonly assumed that a freeze-avoidance strategy induces little physiological stress since the supercooling state is compatible with life processes. In fact, it is tolerated by a number of species, even subtropical ones (Lowe et al 1971). Thus, in our model, we assume that .…”

Section: Assumptionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

To Freeze or Not to Freeze? An Evolutionary Perspective on the Cold‐Hardiness Strategies of Overwintering Ectotherms

Voituron¹,

Mouquet²,

Mazancourt³

et al. 2002

The American Naturalist

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We address the question of whether freeze-tolerance, freeze-avoidance, or mixed strategy represents the best adaptation for overwintering ectotherms to endure severe winter. To this end, we develop an optimization fitness model that takes into account different physiological parameters such as energetic level, the physiological stress associated with each strategy, and climatic variables. The results show that the freeze-tolerance strategy is strongly dependent on a low sensitivity to the number of freezing days and on a capacity to reduce stress associated with freezing. This strategy is also favored when the initial energetic level is low compared to the freeze-avoidance strategy, which is favored by a high initial energetic level, a low stress associated with the supercooling, and a low sensitivity of this strategy to climatic conditions. From a theoretical point of view, the mixed strategy permits survival in harsher environments but requires the optimization of all parameters involved in both cold-hardiness strategies. However, the mixed strategy shows energetic advantages in variable environments allowing animals to resist the harshest periods. From the model results, it appears that the physiological processes developed by ectotherms to reduce these stresses might be a key to understanding the evolution of the cold-hardiness strategies.

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Section: Assumptionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

To Freeze or Not to Freeze? An Evolutionary Perspective on the Cold‐Hardiness Strategies of Overwintering Ectotherms

Voituron¹,

Mouquet²,

Mazancourt³

et al. 2002

The American Naturalist

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Section: High-subzero Preservationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Even Caiman crocodilus , which can grow to over 2.5 m (over 58 kg), can supercool to below –5°C [74]. Many species in nature, including mammals, can sustain subfreezing body temperatures for weeks or longer, supercooling to avoid ice formation [74-76, 108]. Two of the most prominent strategies involve (1) synthesis of high amounts of low-molecular-weight carbohydrates, which provide colligative resistance to detrimental decreases in cell volume, stabilize phospholipid bilayers, and restrict the formation of intracellular ice, and (2) synthesis of ice-blocking molecules that bind molecular surfaces around which ice would otherwise form.…”

Section: High-subzero Preservationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“… At least 45 vertebrates achieve supercooling at body temperatures as low as –14°C [74]. Mammals like the arctic ground squirrel [76] hibernate/supercool with body temperatures of –3°C (–8°C in the laboratory [75, 108]) for up to 3 weeks [108], with every organ “banked” without injury.…”

Section: Bioengineering Applicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Yet, in nature, at least 45 vertebrate species (including mammals) can survive days, weeks, or even months at high-subzero body temperatures in a state of “suspended animation,” without tissue damage [74-76]. Numerous mechanisms that adapt tissues to this temperature range have been uncovered, including upregulation of stress response pathways [77], programmed suppression of metabolism [78], and synthesis of antifreeze proteins that prevent ice nucleation [79, 80].…”

Section: High-subzero Preservationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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New Approaches to Cryopreservation of Cells, Tissues, and Organs

Taylor¹,

Weegman²,

Baicu³

et al. 2019

Transfus Med Hemother

130

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In this concept article, we outline a variety of new approaches that have been conceived to address some of the remaining challenges for developing improved methods of biopreservation. This recognizes a true renaissance and variety of complimentary, high-potential approaches leveraging inspiration by nature, nanotechnology, the thermodynamics of pressure, and several other key fields. Development of an organ and tissue supply chain that can meet the healthcare demands of the 21st century means overcoming twin challenges of (1) having enough of these lifesaving resources and (2) having the means to store and transport them for a variety of applications. Each has distinct but overlapping logistical limitations affecting transplantation, regenerative medicine, and drug discovery, with challenges shared among major areas of biomedicine including tissue engineering, trauma care, transfusion medicine, and biomedical research. There are several approaches to biopreservation, the optimum choice of which is dictated by the nature and complexity of the tissue and the required length of storage. Short-term hypothermic storage at temperatures a few degrees above the freezing point has provided the basis for nearly all methods of preserving tissues and solid organs that, to date, have proved refractory to cryopreservation techniques successfully developed for single-cell systems. In essence, these short-term techniques have been based on designing solutions for cellular protection against the effects of warm and cold ischemia and basically rely upon the protective effects of reduced temperatures brought about by Arrhenius kinetics of chemical reactions. However, further optimization of such preservation strategies is now seen to be restricted. Long-term preservation calls for much lower temperatures and requires the tissue to withstand the rigors of heat and mass transfer during protocols designed to optimize cooling and warming in the presence of cryoprotective agents. It is now accepted that with current methods of cryopreservation, uncontrolled ice formation in structured tissues and organs at subzero temperatures is the single most critical factor that severely restricts the extent to which tissues can survive procedures involving freezing and thawing. In recent years, this major problem has been effectively circumvented in some tissues by using ice-free cryopreservation techniques based upon vitrification. Nevertheless, despite these promising advances there remain several recognized hurdles to be overcome before deep-subzero cryopreservation, either by classic freezing and thawing or by vitrification, can provide the much-needed means for biobanking complex tissues and organs for extended periods of weeks, months, or even years. In many cases, the approaches outlined here, including new underexplored paradigms of high-subzero preservation, are novel and inspired by mechanisms of freeze tolerance, or freeze avoidance, in nature. Others apply new bioengineering techniques such as nanotechnology, isochoric pressure preserv...

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Natural freeze tolerance in the terrestrial turtle, Terrapene carolina

Costanzo

Claussen

1990

J. Exp. Zool.

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To investigate freeze tolerance in box turtles (Terrapene Carolina), we froze 19 adults to body temperatures as low as -3.6"C under controlled laboratory conditions. Our data reveal that box turtles tolerate the freezing of at least 58% of their body water and can remain frozen, without injury, for at least 73 hr. Supercooling occurred in 63% of the turtles but only lasted from 0.1 to 2.0 hr. Supercooling points (X * SEM = -1.1 & 0.3"C) were high, and thus supercooling is not an effective strategy for freeze avoidance in T. carolina. Body ice contents (7-58% of total body water) of turtles frozen for 0.7-50 hr, determined calorimetrically, were inversely related to core body temperature. Significant thermal gradients occurred within the turtles' bodies during prefreeze cooling, freezing, and thawing. Since T . Carolina hibernates in shallow terrestrial burrows, where exposure to subzero temperatures is likely, freeze tolerance represents a remarkable adaptation that probably enhances winter survival. These turtles are the largest (up to 0.5 kg) animals, by nearly a n order of magnitude, for which natural freeze tolerance has been demonstrated.

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Supercooling in reptiles and other vertebrates

Cited by 55 publications

References 22 publications

To Freeze or Not to Freeze? An Evolutionary Perspective on the Cold‐Hardiness Strategies of Overwintering Ectotherms

To Freeze or Not to Freeze? An Evolutionary Perspective on the Cold‐Hardiness Strategies of Overwintering Ectotherms

New Approaches to Cryopreservation of Cells, Tissues, and Organs

Natural freeze tolerance in the terrestrial turtle, Terrapene carolina

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