The Effects of Short‐Term Cold Exposure on Serum Lipids, Antioxidant Capacity, and Hepatic Cell Apoptosis in Chinese Moccasin ( Deinagkistrodon acutus )

Hibernation is an amazing survival skill that some animals use to cope with natural challenges, and cold is the main stimulus. While most hibernation studies focus on long-term cold adaptation mechanisms, the rapid physiological adjustments triggered by short-term cold exposure may also be key components in the initiation of hibernation. This study focused on 20 Chinese Moccasin (Deinagkistrodon acutus), divided into two groups: an active group (n = 10) and a short-term cold exposure group (n = 10). Using serum biochemistry, serum antioxidant measurements, and liver transcriptome technology, the study explored the effects of short-term cold exposure on snake serum lipids, antioxidant capacity, and apoptosis. The results showed that the levels of cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were significantly lower in cold exposure snakes compared to the active group, whereas total bile acid was higher in the cold exposure group; serum antioxidant indicators glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and total antioxidant capacity were lower in cold exposure snakes than in active snakes, whereas the concentration of malondialdehyde was higher in cold exposure snakes. The liver transcriptome revealed that more pro-apoptotic genes were upregulated in active snakes, whereas there were more upregulated anti-apoptotic genes in cold exposure snakes, and the ratio of anti-apoptotic to pro-apoptotic genes was significantly higher in cold exposure snakes than in active snakes. This study not only elucidates the physiological effects of short-term cold exposure on snakes but also advances our understanding of the adaptive mechanisms underlying the transition from activity to hibernation in ectothermic animals.