Turkish Journal of Zoology
DOI
-
Abstract
Specimens of Mesocricetus brandti were observed in order to assess the onset of hibernation and the inhibition rate of superoxide dismutase (SOD). The first individual began to hibernate on November 2 and the last animal awoke on May 5. Individual hibernation bouts varied from 8 to 63 days, and the longest uninterrupted hibernation was 4 days. In the hibernation period, the animals lost an average of 27.1 g, ranging from 2.7% to 38% of total body weight. In hibernating animals, the average inhibition rate of SOD was 82.3% while it was 77.5% in active animals. The inhibition rate of SOD in the hibernating animals was 6.3% higher on average than in active animals (P < 0.05).
Keywords
Mesocricetus brandti, hibernation, superoxide dismutase, Turkey
First Page
421
Last Page
425
Recommended Citation
YİĞİT, NURİ; ERTEN, DİDEM; and GÜL, NURSEL (2008) "Hibernation Pattern and Importance of Superoxide Dismutase for the Turkish Hamster, Mesocricetus brandti (Mammalia: Rodentia)," Turkish Journal of Zoology: Vol. 32: No. 4, Article 9. Available at: https://journals.tubitak.gov.tr/zoology/vol32/iss4/9
