Compensatory growth (organism)

For the compensatory growth of organs, see Compensatory growth (organ).

Compensatory growth, also known as catch-up growth and compensatory gain, is an accelerated growth of an organism following a period of slowed growth, particularly as a result of nutrient deprivation.[1][2] Oftentimes, the body weights of animals who experience nutritional restriction will over time become similar to those of animals who did not experienced such stress.[1] It is possible for high compensatory growth rates to result in overcompensation, where the organism exceeds normal weight and often has excessive fat deposition.[3]

An organism can recover to normal weight without additional time.[1] Sometimes when the nutrient restriction is severe, the growth period is extended to reach the normal weight.[1] If the nutrient restriction is severe enough, the organism may have permanent stunted growth where it does not ever reach normal weight.[1] Usually in animals, complete recovery from carbohydrate and protein restriction occurs.[3]

Compensatory growth has been observed in a number of organisms including species of mammals,[4] birds,[4] reptiles,[5] fish,[6] plants (especially grasses and young tree seedlings and saplings),[7] fungi,[8] microbes,[9] and damselflies.[10]

Contents

History

In 1911, Hans Aron performed the earliest study of growth after periods of undernourishment.[11] He underfed a dog and found that it still had the capacity to rapidly gain weight, though it did not reach the final weight of a dog that was fed normally.[11][12] In 1915, Osborne and Mendel were the first to demonstrate that rats fed after growth restriction had an accelerated growth rate.[4][11][13] In 1945, Brody developed the idea of “homoestasis of growth” in the book Bioenergetics and Growth.[4][11][14] In 1955, Verle Bohman was the first to use the term “compensatory growth” in an article pertaining to beef cattle.[4][15]

Mechanism

In animals, homeostatic and homeorhetic processes are involved in the abnormally high growth rates.[1] Homeostatic processes usually affect compensatory growth in the short term, whereas homeorhetic processes usually have a long term effect.[2]

The exact biological mechanisms for compensatory growth are poorly understood, though it is clear that in some animals the endocrine system is involved in the metabolism and nutrient partitioning in the tissues.[1][16] First, during nutrient starvation, a reduction of basal metabolism takes place.[1][16] The gut tissues are the first tissues to be reduced in weight and activity.[16] Then, during the realimentation (re-feeding) phase, an increase in feeding enables more dietary protein and energy to be contributed for tissue growth instead of basal metabolism.[1] The gut tissues are the first to increase in weight, followed by muscle tissue and finally adipose tissue.[16]

Factors affecting compensatory growth

In 1960, Wilson and Osborne outlined six factors that could affect compensatory growth in a review article.[2][4] The importance of each, some, or all of these factors is not well-understood.[3] These factors are as follows:[2][3][4]

Animal factors that can affect compensatory growth may include the maturity level and fat proportion of the animal at the time of nutrient deprivation, the genotype, the gender, and the metabolic changes.[2] The stage of development of the animal when the nutrient restriction occurs greatly affects its body composition.[1]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j David E. Gerrard; Alan L. Grant (September 2002). Principles of Animal Growth and Development. Kendall Hunt. pp. 204–208. ISBN 9780787291471. http://books.google.com/books?id=oZbbxMdGJBEC&pg=PA204. Retrieved 5 June 2011. 
  2. ^ a b c d e Tony Leonard John Lawrence; V. R. Fowler (November 2002). Growth of farm animals. CABI. pp. 229–254. ISBN 9780851994840. http://books.google.com/books?id=6YycK_V2fJQC&pg=PA229. Retrieved 6 June 2011. 
  3. ^ a b c d fundamentals of modern agriculture. Taylor & Francis. pp. 279–280. GGKEY:BP74C846RC5. http://books.google.com/books?id=EqkOAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA279. Retrieved 6 June 2011. 
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Wilson, P.; Osbourn, D. (1960). "Compensatory growth after undernutrition in mammals and birds". Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society 35: 324–363. PMID 13785698.  edit
  5. ^ Radder, R. S.; Warner, D. A.; Shine, R. (2007). "Compensating for a bad start: Catch-up growth in juvenile lizards (Amphibolurus muricatus, agamidae)". Journal of Experimental Zoology Part A: Ecological Genetics and Physiology 307A (9): 500–508. doi:10.1002/jez.403. PMID 17620280.  edit
  6. ^ James S. Diana (2004). Biology and ecology of fishes. Biological Sciences Press, a Division of Cooper Pub. Group. p. 66. ISBN 9781884125980. http://books.google.com/books?id=yMzwAAAAMAAJ. Retrieved 6 June 2011. 
  7. ^ David M. Orcutt; Erik T. Nilsen (2000). The Physiology of Plants Under Stress: Soil and biotic factors. John Wiley and Sons. pp. 277–278. ISBN 9780471170082. http://books.google.com/books?id=zDIOVVEQEfcC&pg=PA277. Retrieved 6 June 2011. 
  8. ^ Bretherton, S.; Tordoff, G. M.; Jones, T. H.; Boddy, L. (2006). "Compensatory growth of Phanerochaete velutina mycelial systems grazed by Folsomia candida (Collembola)". FEMS Microbiology Ecology 58 (1): 33–40. doi:10.1111/j.1574-6941.2006.00149.x. PMID 16958906.  edit
  9. ^ Mikola J. and H. Setala (1998), "No evidence of tropic cascades in an experimental microbial-based food web", Ecology 79: 153–164 
  10. ^ Dmitriew, C.; Rowe, L. (2004). "Resource limitation, predation risk and compensatory growth in a damselfly". Oecologia 142 (1): 150–154. doi:10.1007/s00442-004-1712-2. PMID 15372227.  edit
  11. ^ a b c d C. J. K. Henry; Stanley J. Ulijaszek (1996). Long-term consequences of early environment: growth, development, and the lifespan developmental perspective. Cambridge University Press. pp. 124–138. ISBN 9780521471084. http://books.google.com/books?id=66JbrqPjINgC&pg=PA128. Retrieved 6 June 2011. 
  12. ^ Aron, H. (1911). "Nutrition and growth". Philippine Journal of Sciences, Section B (Medical Science) 6: 1–52. 
  13. ^ Osborne, T.B.; Mendel, L. B. (1915). "The resumption of growth after long continued failure to grow". The Journal of Biological Chemistry 23: 439–454. 
  14. ^ S. Brody (1945). Bioenergetics and Growth. Reinhold. 
  15. ^ Bohman, V. R. (1955). "Compensatory Growth of Beef Cattle: The Effect of Hay Maturity". Journal of animal science 14 (1): 249–255. 
  16. ^ a b c d C. G. Scanes (24 April 2003). Biology of growth of domestic animals. Wiley-Blackwell. p. 352. ISBN 9780813829067. http://books.google.com/books?id=R4Qau0BMeoIC&pg=PA352. Retrieved 6 June 2011.