Put people into artificial hibernation and send them into space? It’s possible. Recently, scientists were able to artificially hibernate rodents, including mice and rats, using ultrasound. Since the rat does not naturally hibernate, the researchers are considering applying this finding to humans. “If it turns out to be possible for humans, we could imagine astronauts wearing a helmet-like device designed to affect the hypothalamus region and induce a state of hypothermia and hypometabolism.”explained Guardian Hong Chen is an associate professor at Washington University in St. Louis and the author of this new study.
-47% for heart rate
To arrive at this discovery, the scientists first identified a specific network of neurons in a deep region of the brain called the “preoptic region,” located in the hypothalamus. This zone is used, in particular, to regulate body temperature, which is very important during hibernation. First, they conducted their experiment on mice. By activating neurons in the animals’ preoptic region through a helmet that sends out ultrasound, they were able to lower the mice’s body temperature by three degrees in one hour. Their heart rate dropped by 47%.
The scientists also developed a system to pulse at regular intervals and keep the rodents stable. In this way, their body temperature was able to stay at 33 degrees, in a state close to hibernation, for 24 hours. As soon as the helmet was removed, the mice woke up. The experiment, described in the journal Nature Metabolism, also showed that the system worked on larger rodents such as rats. Animals that managed to lower their body temperature by 1°C. Now the team wants to use their ultrasonic helmet on larger animals.
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If this process were adapted for humans, this state, close to torpor, could have a positive effect on health. Indeed, according to Guardianslowing the metabolism can buy time to treat life-threatening conditions such as heart attacks and strokes. “By expanding the window of medical intervention, this method offers promising prospects for improving the chances of patient survival,” detailed Dr. Chen.
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