[Changes the structural elements of the organs of bats during periods of activity and hibernation]

In hibernated animals (Myotis myotis) morphological changes are characterized by certain peculiarities in structure of the mitochondrial apparatus and some other cellular organells. In the animals, which are in the state of hibernation, the main plan of cardiomyocytes structure in the pulmonary vein wall, as well as in the myocardium itself does not change, as compared to those in the animals which are in the active state. The ultrastructure of the skeletal muscle fibers also does not undergo any essential alterations. A definitely seen narrowing of the capillary bed in the pulmonary alveoli is revealed. In the nuclei of their granular cells chromatin is substituted for lamellar myelin-like corpuscles; in cytoplasm there are inclusions that contain electron-opaque material of lamellar structure. In the active animals the inclusions contain electron-transparent material and are surrounded with a wide osmiophilic rim. In the liver of the hibernating animals hepatocytes loose their glycogen, but the number of lipid vacuoles and electron-opaque multivesicular corpuscles increase.