ABSTRACT
Hibernation is an important adaptive strategy that is used by some, typically small, mammals that live in temperate environments. During hibernation, the need for high levels of metabolic heat generation is decreased by a controlled, internally reversible reduction in body temperature, heart, respiratory and metabolic rates. In order to pursue the hypothesis that the arousals are specifically required for hibernation, it is essential to understand the biochemical events that are required to achieve and maintain the hibernating state. G. F. Zhegnuov et al., found that the rate of protein synthesis increases dramatically in all tissues studied during arousal from hibernation. The expression of unique gene products in hibernators for hibernation is an intriguing and under-explored possibility. The chapter utilizes quantitative slot blot analysis to assess whether an increase in the amount of mRNA during hibernation is a general phenomenon for liver specific genes, or whether α2-macroglobulin is unique in this respect.
