Cold- and TRPM8-dependent shaking in mammals and birds

Selescu T, Bivoleanu RA, Caragea VM, Carstens MI, Manolache A, Huțanu DE, Meerupally R, Wei ET, Carstens E, Zimmermann K, Babes A (2026)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2026

Journal

Communications Biology Nature Research

Book Volume: 9

Article Number: 101

Journal Issue: 1

DOI: 10.1038/s42003-025-09370-4

Abstract

Removing cold water from wet fur or feathers can help endothermic animals to thermoregulate. The “wet dog shakes” (WDS) behavior has been largely characterized in mammals but to a much lesser extent in birds. Although it is known that TRPM8 is the main molecular transducer of low temperature in mammals, it is not clear if wetness-induced shaking in furred and feathered animals is dependent on TRPM8. Here, we show that a novel TRPM8 agonist induces WDS in rodents, and also in birds, similar to the shaking behavior evoked by water-spraying. Furthermore, the WDS onset depends on TRPM8, as we show in water-sprayed mice. Overall, our results provide multiple evidence for a TRPM8 dependence of WDS behaviors in all tested species. These suggest that a convergent evolution selected similar shaking behaviors to expel water from fur and feathers, with TRPM8 being involved in cold wetness sensing in both mammals and birds.

Authors with CRIS profile

Rathej Meerupally Department of Anaesthesiology Katharina Zimmermann Professur für Experimentelle Schmerzforschung (Heisenbergprofessur)

Involved external institutions

University of Bucharest / Universitatea din București RO Romania (RO) University of California, Davis (UC Davis, UCD) US United States (USA) (US) University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) US United States (USA) (US)

How to cite

APA:

Selescu, T., Bivoleanu, R.A., Caragea, V.M., Carstens, M.I., Manolache, A., Huțanu, D.E.,... Babes, A. (2026). Cold- and TRPM8-dependent shaking in mammals and birds. Communications Biology, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-09370-4

MLA:

Selescu, Tudor, et al. "Cold- and TRPM8-dependent shaking in mammals and birds." Communications Biology 9.1 (2026).

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