Researchers have made a groundbreaking discovery that enables controlling human body temperature, mimicking the hibernation process of animals like bears. By manipulating the brain’s temperature regulation system, they can induce a state of “thermoregulatory inversion” (TI) in rats, reducing heat production even in cold environments.
This breakthrough could lead to controlled hypothermia in humans, improving survival rates in life-threatening situations such as heart attacks and strokes. The discovery opens the door to therapeutic hypothermia, which can protect tissues from damage by lowering metabolism and oxygen demand.
According to Oregon Health & Science University researchers, the key to this process lies in a specific area of the brain called the ventromedial periventricular area (VMPeA). By blocking this area, they can trigger TI in rats, stopping heat production even in cold environments. This discovery could lead to controlled hypothermia in humans, potentially saving lives in emergency situations.
The researchers found that exposing rats to cold temperatures activates the VMPeA, reducing heat production and inducing TI. In contrast, warm temperatures stimulate thermogenesis, the process of generating heat. The study’s findings support the potential for pharmacologically inducing TI to elicit therapeutic hypothermia in humans, which could be beneficial during surgeries, metabolic disorders, or brain injuries.
The research was conducted by Domenico Tupone, Ph.D., and colleagues at OHSU and the University of Pittsburgh. Funding was provided by the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
Source: https://neurosciencenews.com/body-temperature-hibernation-neuroscience-28310