The role of dermorphin in the regulation of the processes of hibernation in mammals.

Data are presented in this paper regarding the influence of the opioid peptide, dermorphin, and its conjugate on the conditioned reflex activity of sousliks. The administration of dermorphin (0.1 mu/g, subcutaneously) is accompanied by a fall in body temperature, slowing of the baseline vegetative indices, and the sinking of the animal into a sleep-like state. A substantial disturbance of conditioned reflex activity was identified in the late period (delayed effects). Immunization of the hibernating sousliks with a conjugate of dermorphin leads to a gradual awakening of the animals from hibernation, to the normalization of conditioned reflex activity, and to the appearance of the motoric component of a conditioned defense reaction. The question of a possible specific role of dermorphin in the mechanisms of hibernation is discussed.

[The role of dermorfin in regulating hibernation processes in mammals]. / Rol' dermorfina v reguliatsii protsessov zimnei spiachki u mlekopitaiushchikh.

Administration of dermorphin (0.1 mg/kg, subcutaneously) induced a drop of body temperature, deceleration of initial vegetative parameters and development of hibernation-like state in susliks. The delayed effects involved a disorder in conditioning. The immunisation of hibernating susliks with the dermorphin conjugate leads to a gradual waking up of the animals, normalising of conditioning in all the parameters and occurrence of a motor component in avoidance conditioning. A possible specific role of the dermorphin in the mechanisms of hibernation, is discussed.

[An analysis of the peripheral blood picture in the suslik and the white rat at different seasons of the year]. / Analiz perifericheskoi kartiny krovi u suslika i beloi krysy v razlichnye sezony goda.

New data are presented concerning seasonal changes in the peripheral blood of hibernating and non-hibernating rodents. In non-hibernating rats, seasonal changes in the blood are mainly phenotypical. Hibernating mammals are capable periodically to renew cellular composition of the blood during winter and summer hibernation.

[Characteristics of higher nervous activity in the suslik Citellus fulvus during its active period]. / Nekotorye osobennosti vysshei nervnoi deiatel'nosti u suslika Citellus fulvus v aktivnyi period.

In experiments on active ground squirrels, it was possible to form motor defensive conditioned reflexes and to re-arrange the conditioned reflexes from visual and auditory analysers. It was originally demonstrated that repetitive alteration of the informational content of the conditioned stimuli results in neurotic disturbances in animals.