A prominent miscellany of beast can go into hibernation . Their metabolic process , center rate , and breathing obtuse to the unornamented lower limit , which set aside them to withstand rough environmental conditions such as stale winters or drought . Bears are most famous for this , but now researchers have distinguish how to stimulate a similar state in mice .
The find is reported in two studies published in Nature ( hereandhere ) . The teams discovered a neuronal circuit in the hypothalamus of mice that master torpor , a hibernation - like state akin to suspended animation seen in movies . By stimulating these neurons , researchers were able to induce torpor in mice for twenty-four hour period .
Scientists are not only curious about how such a state can happen but they are excited about its possible applications in the future . An induce torpor province in homo could be used in medicine to protect learning ability during a stroke , help treat metabolic disease , or even put someone into a similar suspended state during space travel .
" The imaginativeness lead wild when we think about the potency of hibernation - like state in humans . Could we really extend lifetime ? Is this the way to send masses to Mars ? " co - lead generator Dr Sinisa Hrvatin , from Harvard Medical School ( HMS ) , said in astatement . " To answer these questions , we must first study the fundamental biology of torpor and hibernation in creature . We and others are doing this – it is not science fabrication . "
mouse do not unremarkably hibernate but if the external temperature is low enough and they lack solid food , they can enter this torpor DoS .
" In warm - blooded animals , body temperature is tightly regulated , " Centennial State - author Senmiao Sun explained . " A drop of a couple of stage in humans , for exercise , leads to hypothermia and can be calamitous . However , torpor circumvents this regularization and reserve body temperatures to fall dramatically . Studying torpor in computer mouse aid us infer how this fascinating feature of strong - blooded animate being might be rig through neural processes . "
The researchers investigate which area of the brains were activate during such a state . Then they activated these area in well - fed mice to see if they could induce torpor , which indeed proved to be the slip .
" It ’s far too soon to say whether we could induce this character of state in a homo , but it is a end that could be worthwhile , " Professor Michael Greenberg , also at HMS , said . " It could potentially lead to an sympathy of suspend life , metabolic control and possibly extended lifespan . Suspended animation in particular is a common theme in science fabrication , and perhaps our ability to traverse the lead will someday depend on it . "
The squad will stay on to study this physical process to well translate the long - term effect as well as the office of other neural circuits in all of this .
