Articles tagged with Animal Physiology
Dean Franklin, an engineer, and two physicians, Robert Rushmer and Robert Van Citters, pioneered noninvasive imaging and treatment of the heart. They developed devices that measured blood flow, heartbeat dimensions, and blood pressure without cutting open the body.
A new study found that exercise reduces appetite and burns fat first, then carbohydrates, slowing weight regain and overeating. Exercise also prevents the increase in fat cells during weight regain, making it easier to stay on a diet.
A study with hamsters shows that chronic alcohol consumption blunts the biological clock's ability to synchronize daily activities to light. The research suggests that this disruption can have long-lasting effects on the body's internal clock, even after withdrawal from alcohol.
Seabirds face an 'energetic bottleneck' in winter, struggling to find enough food to survive harsh conditions. The study suggests that the birds' high energy demands may be too much to handle, leading to catastrophic losses during the winter months.
Research highlights the gender disparities in stroke risks, with males outnumbering females by two to one, while women's outcomes worsen with age. Women also face disadvantages in stroke treatment, including lower response rates to tissue plasminogen activator.
Researchers found marine mammals have higher myoglobin solubility due to increased net positive charge, and stronger divers have more histidine, aiding lactic acid management. This adaptation helps marine mammals cope with aquatic life demands.
Researchers have successfully created a line of induced pluripotent stem cells from adult pigs, providing a valuable model for studying therapeutic potential and addressing ethical concerns. The pig iPS cells closely resemble human stem cells, making them an exciting emerging field with rapid progression and multiple applications.
Researchers Francois Abboud and Ann M. Schreihofer have unraveled how the brain regulates blood pressure and flow through communication with blood vessels. Their work has led to clinical advances, including a pacemaker-like device to lower blood pressure in hypertensive individuals.
Researchers found that chameleons alter their sunbathing behavior in response to their dietary vitamin D intake, regulating UV exposure to maintain optimal levels. The study showed remarkable accuracy in the chameleons' ability to gauge and adjust their UV exposure based on internal vitamin D levels.
Researchers at Uppsala University and colleagues analyze fossil upper arm bones from ancient vertebrates, revealing two distinct life histories. Ichthyostega, a more terrestrial animal, undergoes significant changes in limb shape and muscle attachments as it grows, while Acanthostega remains aquatic with less dramatic transformations.
A new study by University of Alaska Fairbanks researchers suggests that the size of male crested auklets' crests may be an indicator of their quality as mates. Males with larger crests have been found to have lower levels of stress hormones, indicating they are better equipped to cope with the challenges of reproduction.
A study by Northwestern University researchers discovered the circadian clock genes strongly regulate NAD production, a critical cofactor involved in energy utilization. This discovery sheds light on how aging, metabolism, and the circadian clock are interconnected.
New DNA and hormone sampling techniques have provided unprecedented information about baboons' social behavior, revealing grief, paternal care, and complex kin relationships. Researchers found that male baboons provide parental care, while females form friendships with both maternal and paternal siblings.
Researchers found that carotenoids may improve male sperm quality, promote healthy offspring development, and enhance color vision in birds. They also propose a positive fitness feedback loop where high carotenoid accumulation improves an individual's state and mate selection.
A study by Ralph Brinster found that males housed with females had a six-month delay in fertility decline, compared to those without companionship. This could have significant implications for male fertility in wildlife and human populations.
A new study reveals that spitting cobras create complex geometric patterns of venom when striking, which are actively produced by the snake's muscles. This allows them to hit their targets with remarkable precision, making contact with an attacker's eyes where it causes severe pain and possibly blindness.
A study by University of Rhode Island scientists finds that elevated CO2 levels will reduce jumbo squid's oxygen consumption rate and activity levels, affecting their feeding behavior. The researchers predict that the squids may migrate to northern climes to escape CO2 and oxygen stress.
Researchers predict that humans could achieve a top speed of over 17m/s, while dogs and horses have reached their limits. Female sprinters could also shave off significant seconds from the current world record.
Researchers found that cigarette smoke exposure in rats leads to significant changes in the left ventricle's shape and increased levels of activated enzymes. Norepinephrine levels also rise in response to cigarette smoke, suggesting a link between stress hormone release and cardiovascular damage.
Patients with serious anxiety disorders tend to report more intense physiological symptoms than they actually experience, according to a new study. Physiological tests revealed that these patients are often hyporeactive, contradicting their self-reported symptoms.
Recent studies in BioScience explore advancements in bacterial identification using genomics and proteomics. The journal also examines the ecological consequences of West Nile virus outbreaks and the importance of ecosystem services.
A new study predicts that a two-degree temperature increase could shrink kangaroo populations by 48% and lead to their possible extinction in northern Australia. Climate change is likely to affect habitats, particularly water availability, making it harder for kangaroos to adapt.
Racing sled dogs have an extraordinary ability to rapidly adapt to sustained strenuous exercise and display enormous aerobic capacity. They can burn up to 12,000 kilocalories per day, fueling their runs with a high-fat diet.
Researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology have developed a prosthetic vein valve to replace damaged valves in people with chronic venous insufficiency. The valve has shown promise in preclinical trials, demonstrating biocompatibility and performance similar to natural body tissue.
MicroRNA researcher Victor Ambros, PhD, received the prestigious Lasker Award alongside Gary Ruvkun and David Baulcombe. The award recognizes their work on microRNAs, which are now understood to regulate genes in both animals and plants.
Researchers found water bears can withstand extreme dehydration and cosmic radiation in space, but are harmed by ultraviolet radiation. Ingemar Jönsson's team discovered that water bears can repair DNA damage after exposure to space conditions.
A study published by the American Physiological Society found that quercetin, a naturally occurring substance in fruits and vegetables, reduces the likelihood of contracting the flu. The study also showed that stressful exercise increases susceptibility to the flu, but quercetin cancels out this negative effect.
Researchers have found that cocaine-induced synaptic plasticity plays a crucial role in addiction development. By selectively switching off specific protein components, scientists have been able to induce persistent addictive behavior in mice.
Fossils of Ventastega, a primitive tetrapod, provide insights into the transition from fish to land animals. The new discoveries show that different parts of the body evolved at different speeds during this process.
Research in BMC Pharmacology disproves the false claims surrounding benfotiamine, a synthetic derivative of thiamine, and its supposed benefits. The study reveals that benfotiamine is not more physiologically active or easily absorbed by the body than other precursors.
A new CU-Boulder study reveals that artificial darkening of a male North American barn swallow's breast feathers leads to an increase in testosterone levels, challenging the traditional view that physiology forms external features.
A new study by Arizona State University researchers found that artificially coloring the breast feathers of male barn swallows increased their testosterone levels, challenging the traditional view that internal processes determine external features. The study suggests a dynamic system where physical appearance affects physiology.
Researchers discovered that snakes have undergone massive functional redesign of core metabolic proteins, enabling their remarkable physiological adaptations. This study provides insight into vertebrate physiology and opens up new directions for research on molecular evolution and adaptation.
Researchers at WashU Medicine found that disabling an enzyme that attaches sugars to a hormone increased fertility levels in mice by nearly 50 percent. The altered hormone regulation may be used to enhance human fertility.
A mouse study has found that caloric restriction leads to beneficial hormonal changes, which play a role in extending life. The study suggests that calorie restriction is more effective than exercise in promoting longevity.
A new study finds that relying on animal experiments to develop treatments for spinal cord injuries is hindered by significant extrapolation challenges, with only a small percentage of promising agents translating to humans. The review calls for the development of new research techniques to address this issue.
A new study found that uncontrollable stress worsens symptoms of endometriosis in rats by activating inflammatory mechanisms and damaging organs. The study, conducted on seven female rats, showed that stressed animals developed more severe lesions and organ damage than unstressed controls.
Adult male monkeys exposed to cocaine in the womb show altered function of dopamine 3 receptors, linked to increased vulnerability to drug abuse. The study's findings have implications for human cocaine overdose victims with higher D3 receptor numbers.
Researchers at Wake Forest University found that environmental enrichment and increased social stress can reduce cocaine self-administration in monkeys. The study showed that subordinate animals, who experience more stress, consume more cocaine than dominant animals with improved living conditions.
A study by UC Davis researchers found that an ocean odor, DMSP, attracts reef fish that feed on plankton, providing insight into marine ecology. The release of DMSP also promotes cloud formation, cooling the Earth through reduced sunlight reflection.
Crocodilians divert blood through a special vessel called the left aorta to bypass their lungs during digestion. This unique system enables them to secrete gastric acid at an unprecedented rate, facilitating digestion and survival. By shunting CO2-rich blood straight to the stomach, crocodilians maintain optimal digestive conditions.
By inefficiently powering mouse muscles, researchers found increased metabolic rates reduced vascular disease, obesity, and cancer, with no impact on the aging process itself. This approach may provide a novel strategy to address age-related diseases without slowing down aging.
A Northwestern University study found that a high-fat diet disrupts the body's internal clock, causing animals to eat during their natural rest periods. The study suggests that this disruption can lead to negative effects on metabolism and increase the risk of obesity and diabetes.
New research reveals fever responses differ among closely related mouse species, suggesting reproductive strategy plays a role. Fast-living mice tend to use fever less often than slow-living counterparts, highlighting the trade-offs between immune defenses and other physiological processes.
Birds with higher stress levels adopt bolder behaviour than their peers, taking more risks in stressful situations. The 'stressed' birds explored more objects and returned to feeders quickly after being startled.
A new mouse study found that mice who are more susceptible to social defeat show increased levels of a growth factor known as BDNF in their brains' reward circuits, which promotes plasticity and learning. Resilient mice, on the other hand, did not exhibit this chemical rise, suggesting a potential link between BDNF and human resilience.
A recent study at the University of Illinois found that improper handling techniques in catch-and-release fishing can increase the likelihood of released fish being caught by predators. The researchers recommend minimizing time spent angling and releasing fish quickly to reduce physiological stress.
A study published in Journal of Biological Chemistry reveals melanin's role in protecting freshwater crayfish from bacterial infections. Effective melanin production is crucial for the animals' survival against Aeromonas hydrophila.
A new mechanism of neuronal conduction of excitation has been discovered, independent of action potentials, using ceramide production. This finding opens up new perspectives for research and breaks away from the classic concept of neuronal functioning.
Researchers found that mice lacking a critical component of the retinal clock exhibit abnormal gene activity and defective electrical responses, but their eyes appear normal. The study suggests that the retina's autonomous circadian clock plays a crucial role in visual processing.
Researchers found that female diabetic rats had reduced nitric oxide levels, while male diabetic rats produced more, leading to increased vascular dysfunction. The study suggests sex-specific therapeutic interventions may be necessary for effective treatment of vascular disease in diabetes.
A recent study using spontaneously hypertensive rats found that testosterone supplements promote renal injury and exacerbate hypertension in aging male rats. The research suggests that natural decrease in testosterone levels with age may affect the progression of cardiovascular/renal disease in men taking testosterone replacement therapy.
A new study aims to identify markers for deadly blood clots in menopausal women by analyzing blood platelets. Researchers are testing their theory as part of the Kronos Early Estrogen Prevention Study, with hopes that it can lead to tools for doctors to provide hormonal therapy commensurate with a woman's risk.
A study published in JCI found that bacteria residing in the gut boost immune response to tumors after total body irradiation, a common treatment for cancer. The researchers discovered that a specific population of bacteria plays a crucial role in augmenting the function of tumor-specific T cells and resulting in tumor regression.
A recent study by Northwestern University researchers found that animals who are partially sleep deprived over consecutive days no longer attempt to catch up on sleep, despite an accumulating sleep deficit. This suggests that chronic partial sleep loss negatively affects the body's ability to compensate for lost sleep.
Researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center have identified a key mechanism behind the turn of events when high-fat, low-carbohydrate diets cause demonstrable changes in metabolism and subsequent weight loss. FGF21, a liver hormone, is required to oxidize fatty acids and burn calories.
A study published in the Journal of Physiology found that adding marine omega-3 fatty acids to a steer's diet increased sensitivity to insulin, improving protein metabolism. This could lead to alternative methods for increasing muscle mass in animal farming.
Researchers identified periaqueductal grey area (PAG) as key brain structure involved in cardiorespiratory response to exercise. PAG activity increases during anticipation and exercise, suggesting its role in autonomic regulation of cardiovascular changes.
A new animal study reveals that moderate alcohol consumption significantly increases breast cancer tumor size and angiogenesis, providing insights into the mechanisms of alcohol-induced breast cancer. The study confirms that even low levels of EtOH intake can stimulate tumor growth and malignancy.
A study by the Spanish Ageing Research Network found that melatonin, naturally present in food sources like corn, oats, and cherries, delays oxidative damage and inflammatory processes typical of old age. Daily melatonin intake could prevent or delay illnesses related to aging, such as neurodegenerative disorders and diabetes.