冬眠期和非冬眠期雄性达乌尔黄鼠食欲相关基因表达及激素水平的变化OA

[Objective]The daurian ground squirrel(Spermophilus dauricus),a hibernating rodent inhabiting arid and semi-arid steppes,exhibits pronounced seasonal variation in feeding behavior.This study aimed to investi-gate the molecular mechanisms underlying appetite regulation during hibernation and active periods.[Method]Gene expression levels of neuronal nitric oxide synthase(nNOS),neuropeptide Y(NPY),vasoactive intestinal peptide(VIP),muscarinic acetylcholine receptor M2(CHRM2),and ghrelin(GHRL)were measured in gastric tissues us-ing RT-qPCR.Hippocampal expression of nNOS and leptin receptor(LepR)was also analyzed in male daurian ground squirrels during summer(active period,July),winter(hibernating period,December),and spring(arousal pe-riod,late March).Serum cholecystokinin-8(CCK-8)levels were assessed by ELISA.[Result]Gastric expres-sion of nNOS and VIP was significantly lower in winter than in spring or summer,whereas CHRM2 expression was significantly higher in winter.GHRL expression in winter and spring was significantly lower than in summer.NPY ex-pression showed a decreasing trend in winter,although the difference was not statistically significant.The nNOS and LepR expression in the hippocampus were significantly lower in winter and spring than in summer.Serum CCK-8 concentrations were also lower in winter than in summer and spring.[Conclusion]The genes nNOS,CHRM2,VIP,and GHRL may cooperatively regulate gastric motility,thereby modulating seasonal feeding variations in daurian ground squirrels.Additionally,hippocampal nNOS and LepR genes,along with the hormone CCK,contribute to the seasonal rhythmicity of feeding behavior.These findings provide insight into the adaptive mechanisms underlying sea-sonal appetite regulation in hibernating mammals.