Influence of Temperature Stress in Arid Conditions on Protein Degradation Enzymes in Rodent Digestive Organs

Abstract

The activity of protein degradation enzymes in rodents under temperature stresses caused by a body temperature rise (hyperthermia) up to 42°С is studied under the conditions of hyperarid regions of arid territories. The heat stress was induced in a special chamber; water at a temperature necessary to raise or lower the body temperature passed through the chamber casing. Regardless of body temperature, the activity of neutral proteases (ANPs) of the liver decreases in both cases. The mechanisms leading to a decrease in ANP with an increase in body temperature are different, since the degree of decreased enzyme activity in this case is several times higher than with low-temperature stress. With hyperthermia, the ANP of all grades of thermal regime is significantly reduced, both in comparison with the control and with hypothermia, except for the incubation temperature of 10°C. The changes occurring in the rodent (in the liver) are evidence of the degree of influence of arid climatic conditions on the adaptability of the considered animals to climate warming.