Considering how an animal as big as bear can hibernate, Japanese researchers have discovered that there is a hormone responsible for this state of sleep in which some animals get, along with the coming of cold season. Scientists have studied hibernation in squirrels, and found that before hibernation occurs a drop of concentration of a certain protein, called HP (hibernation specific protein) from blood, which then lasts for the whole duration of hibernation.When HP blood levels begin to increase ,hibernation ends.
The scientists noticed that the HP's in the blood is inversely proportional to its level in the brain. While the level of HP in blood drops, hormone concentration in spinal fluid grows very quickly. The importance of protein was confirmed by the fact that when animals received treatment with anti-body that blocked HP activity in the brain, the period of hibernation was reduced dramatically.
Higher temperature means higher internal energy and lower temperature means lower internal energy.
Therapeutic hypothermia is a new and effective neuroprotective method in patients, after cardiac arrest. It is assumed that it would inhibit many of the chemical reactions associated with reperfusion injuries. These reactions include production of oxygen free radicals, release of exciting amino-acids and disorders of calcium metabolism, which, in turn, can cause mitochondrial damages and cell death.
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