Why cold helps mice eat acorns
Cold temperature improves tannin tolerance in a granivorous rodent.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Acorn consumption improved liver function at 10°C but worsened it at 20°C—opposite effects based solely on temperature.
Most assume toxins always harm the body; this shows the same toxin can be less harmful—or even beneficial—depending on environment.
Practical Takeaways
None directly applicable to humans
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Acorn consumption improved liver function at 10°C but worsened it at 20°C—opposite effects based solely on temperature.
Most assume toxins always harm the body; this shows the same toxin can be less harmful—or even beneficial—depending on environment.
Practical Takeaways
None directly applicable to humans
Publication
Journal
The Journal of animal ecology
Year
2020
Authors
Hannah R. Windley, T. Shimada
Related Content
Claims (4)
The faster a mouse’s liver can process a sedative drug, the better it can digest protein from tannin-rich acorns — meaning liver speed tells us how well the mouse can handle its food.
Plants produce a diverse array of secondary metabolites as evolutionary adaptations to deter herbivory, many of which are bioactive and toxic to mammalian physiology.
When it's cold, these mice can handle eating acorns with lots of tannins better because their livers work more efficiently; in warmer weather, their livers struggle more with the same food.
These mice eat more acorns in winter because cold weather helps them digest the bitter, toxic tannins better — so temperature helps them survive when other food is scarce.