Cholecystokinin (CCK) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (vip) in the cerebral cortex of the non-hibernating and hibernating golden mantled ground squirrel

1. 1. The effect of hibernation on cerebral cortical concentrations of cholecystokinin and vasoactive intestinal peptide was investigated in the golden mantled ground squirrel (Citellus lateralis). 2. 2. During hibernation, cortical brain weight decreased to 83% of the non-hibernating weight. 3. 3. The concentration of the small form of CCK was significantly reduced. The concentration of the large forms of immunoreactive CCK did not significantly change during hibernation. The molecular forms of CCK appeared the same both before and during hibernation. 4. 4. Of note, the concentration of vasoactive intestinal peptide significantly increased during hibernation. 5. 5. Sine there was a three-fold reduction in the ratio of large to small forms of CCK during hibernation, this suggests that post-translational processing of the precursor peptides are markedly reduced during hibernation.