Scientists Successfully Induce Hibernation-Like State in Rats, Paving Way for Human Medical Use
Researchers at the University of Alaska Fairbanks have made a breakthrough in replicating the extreme hibernation state of Arctic ground squirrels in rats, aiming to develop controlled human hibernation for medical and space travel applications. Arctic ground squirrels survive eight months underground with body temperatures dropping below freezing, including brain temperatures near 0°C and hind limbs reaching -2.9°C, the lowest recorded for any mammal. Scientists have studied these squirrels for over 50 years to understand the biological mechanisms enabling this deep metabolic slowdown.
By injecting molecules similar to adenosine, a natural compound linked to sleepiness, researchers induced a hibernation-like state in rats, which normally do not hibernate. These rats showed a significant drop in body temperature from 38°C to 28°C and exhibited slowed brain activity and heart rate resembling the squirrels' state. This discovery could revolutionize medical treatments by safely slowing human metabolism, providing critical time during heart attacks or strokes, improving organ preservation for transplantation, and potentially protecting cancer patients from radiation side effects.
The research, partially funded by NASA and the U.S. Department of Defense, also explores how Arctic ground squirrels maintain muscle mass and suppress appetite during hibernation, with hopes to develop new therapies for bedridden patients and obesity. Long-term, the technology could enable astronauts to enter controlled hibernation during extended space missions, reducing food and waste needs, protecting against radiation and muscle loss, and easing psychological challenges of long-duration spaceflight.
The team acclimates the squirrels to cold, dark environments mimicking their natural burrows and gently handles them to avoid waking during tests. The ability to induce a safe, controlled metabolic slowdown in humans could transform emergency medicine and space exploration, marking a significant scientific advancement.
