Posted on 12/31/2019 9:29:56 PM PST by BenLurkin
Grizzly bears spend many months in hibernation, but their muscles do not suffer from the lack of movement.
The bear's metabolism and heart rate drop rapidly. It excretes neither urine nor feces. The amount of nitrogen in the blood increases drastically and the bear becomes resistant to the hormone insulin.
A person could hardly survive this four-month phase in a healthy state. Afterwards, he or she would most likely have to cope with thromboses or psychological changes. Above all, the muscles would suffer from this prolonged period of disuse.
The scientists from Berlin, Greifswald and the United States were particularly interested in the question of which genes in the bear's muscle cells are transcribed and converted into proteins, and what effect this has on the cells.
In order to find out which signaling pathways need to be activated in the muscle, Gotthardt and his team compared the activity of genes in grizzly bears, humans and mice.
"We wanted to find out which genes are regulated differently between animals that hibernate and those that do not,"
However, the scientists came across a whole series of such genes. To narrow down the possible candidates that could prove to be a starting point for muscle atrophy therapy, the team subsequently carried out experiments with nematode worms.
As the researchers reported in the journal Scientific Reports, they found proteins in their experiments that strongly influence a bear's amino acid metabolism during hibernation. As a result, its muscle cells contain higher amounts of certain non-essential amino acids
With the help of these experiments, his team has now found a handful of genes whose influence they hope to further investigate in future experiments with mice.
(Excerpt) Read more at phys.org ...
Most of them born in the Fall.
They lose a lot - 30 to 40 pounds iirc. Medical teams would go out and monitor them periodically. I recall one gal had to be taken off because she had lost so much weight.
Some of the folks would spook after the second sleepless night listening to the wolves and noises in the woods. A lot (most?) of it was psychological. Cold, wet, hungry, dark and alone - and with the push of a button they could be at the lodge that night and home with their loved-ones in a few days.
A quick search found one season’s winner lost 60 pounds in 56 days. He was 6’ 6” and went from a 38” to 31” waist.
Yeah - I love those. He does a great job with the video and his narration is wonderful. IIRC he was just some guy that lived in the midwest, wife and kids and thought “I think I’ll go up to Alaska and live off the land for a year.” Turned into 30 years or whatever. And it sounded like he was still married and in good stead with the family - so not sure how they were able to do that.
Thanks for looking. That’s nearly one pound a day. High Stress, high calorie usage environment. That one guy who only built a hole in the ground and got his fish food supply ready was smart.
In a similar vein, I once had major surgery and noticed I was losing half a pound a day from not eating- did not feel like eating. I had to make myself eat until I regained my appetite.
So, why not study chipmunks? Awaken periodically, not true hibernation.
Come to think of it, I think “hibernation” killed my laptop!
Yes, they hibernate too.
That guy that lost the 60 lbs said something like “I gained it back quickly. A diet based on slugs and some dried fish isn’t really a long-term health plan.”
I had an infection a few years ago where I lost about 10 pounds. I thought “Okay - now if I just watch what I eat and exercise more I’m halfway to my goal of losing 20 pounds.”
That didn’t last long. I might need to step on the scales tomorrow. I’m probably 25 pounds from a reasonable weight for me!
That's Bad News...
I knew about it, but thanks. Happy New Year!
I think I found the problem!
"Essential amino acids allowed muscle cells to grow"
Interesting. There’s always something to learn. Thanks!
#20 This is what podcasts are about sports today.
SNL thought of it 30 years ago.
I don’t think he ever married or had children...when he left Alaska, he lived out the rest of his life with his brother in California....
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