Activity of blood serum enzymes in seasonal generations of the bank vole

Abstract

S tudies w ere m ade on th e ac tiv ity of th e follow ing blood serum enzym es: alkaline phosphatase (AP) and phosphocreatine k in ase (CPK) in 84 voles eith er 30 or 60 days old, obtained from sp rin g an d au tu m n seasonal generations. The body w eight of 30-and 60-day old voles b o rn in spring w as g re a te r th a n th a t of ro d en ts of th e sam e age born in a u tu m n (P < .001, .005 < P <C.01 respectively). A n eg ativ e co rrela tio n w as found, w ith coefficient r = -0.592 (P < .001) betw een body w eight and AP activity. AP activ ity decreases w ith age in voles an d d if feren ces betw een 30-and 60-day old rod en ts are significant: in spring P < .0 0 1 , in au tu m n . 0 0 5 < P < . 0 1 . The distinctly higher level of AP ac tiv ity in voles 30 days old, from th e a u tu m n gen eratio n (1292.9±512.6 IU) th a n in those from th e spring (790.6Ż192.8 IU) th u s show s th a t gro w th and ossification of the skeleton, processes connected w ith AP activ ity , ta k e place d iffe ren tly in ex tre m e seasonal g en eratio n s. The ra te of these processes is m ore rap id in th e sprin g g en eratio n s, and co n sequently th e re is a divergence betw een absolute and physiological age of voles born a t d iffe ren t seasons of th e y ear. T he flu ctu atio n s observed in CPK activity, on th e other hand, a re connected m ore w ith a change in th e ac tiv ity of these anim als.[M am m als Res. Inst., P olish A cad. Sci., 17-230 Białow ieża (EW) and Inst. P o stg rad u ate Educ. M ilitary Med. Acad., S zaserów 128, 00-909 W arszaw a (EJ)].