Regulatory Effect of Exogenous Vasopressinon Autonomous Functions and Higher Nervous Activity in Hedgehogs Erinateus auritus under Conditions of High Environmental Temperatures

• Published in: Journal of evolutionary biochemistry and physiology Vol. 38; no. 1; pp. 96 - 104
• Main Author: Sollertinskaya, T N
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer Nature B.V 01.01.2002
• Subjects: Adaptation; Evolutionary biology; Hormones; Neurology; Temperature; Zoology
• DOI: 10.1023/A:1015529724155
• ISSN: 0022-0930

The role of vasopressin (arginine-vasopressin) in animal adaptation to the effect of high environmental temperatures as well as a possibility to prevent development of thermal stress by use of vasopressin was studied under conditions of chronic experiments in hedgehogs. The experiments were carried out on a model of feeding behavior with objective recording of motor and autonomous components of the higher nervous activity and body temperature as well as the basal gas exchange. It is established that exposure of hedgehogs to a heat chamber at 40°C for 35 min is accompanied by a disturbance of autonomous functions and suppression of conditional reflex activity of the brain. The body temperature and oxygen consumption rise considerably on the background of the heat exposure. A preliminary injection of vasopressin at low dosages was found to prevent functional disorders and disturbances of the higher nervous activity in the hedgehogs exposed to high temperatures and to promote a better adaptation to heat exposure. The question of vasopressin as a specific antipyretic agent and of its possible clinical use is discussed.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]