[Histoenzymologic study of the adrenal gland of the dormouse during the annual cycle].

The histoenzymologic study of the adrenals in Glis glis was realized for 4 enzymatic activities (acid phosphatase, glucose 1 phosphate dehydrogenase, delta5 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and cholinesterase) completed by the simultaneous dosage of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. The histophotometric measures made it possible to differentiate the enzymatic activities of the different zones of the adrenal cortex and to show the persistance of an important activity of the zona fasciculata and sometimes of the zona reticulata during hibernation, independantly of the zona glomerulosa. This study confirms the activation of the adrenal cortex during hibernation with a brutal depletion at awakening and reduced activity during estivation.