Peculiarities of interior parameters in Microtus daghestanicus in the mountains of the Central Caucasus

The comparative analysis of parameters of peripheral blood and viscera in M. daghestanicus was performed in different variants of vertical zonation (terskiy and elbrusskiy variants) of the Central Caucasus at the same altitude (1900-2000 m a.s.l.). The number and size of erythrocytes, and hemoglobin content differ significantly in the animals of two variants though hemoglobin and hematocrit are at the similar level. This testifies to differences in support mechanisms of blood oxygen capacity. Intensification of metabolic processes, which was registered in M. daghestanicus of the terskiy variant of vertical zonation, is evident at the tissue level as increased number of erythrocytes under reduction of their diameter and volume, and hemoglobin content, and at the organ level as increased indices of the liver and spleen. Despite more severe conditions of the elbrusskiy variant functioning of blood and viscera develops without “load”. Thus, the studied interior parameters in M. daghestanicus of the Central Caucasus under different nature and climate conditions have peculiarities which are representative of adaptive response of the species to actual environment.