Articles tagged with Animal Physiology
Researchers develop a new concept to understand how precipitation affects tropical animals, including feeding behavior, predation, and physiological responses. The hygric niche framework has implications for conservation and climate change mitigation in the tropics.
A team of researchers found that two specific gut bacteria establish a metabolic cross-feeding mechanism, enabling them to grow in diets lacking essential nutrients. This interaction also affects the fly's feeding behavior, reproduction, and brain function, making the microbiome more resilient to dietary changes.
The new ARRIVE 2.0 guidelines aim to simplify and streamline reporting of animal studies, promoting better study design and transparency. The guidelines prioritize two sets: Essential 10 for basic minimum reporting and a recommended set for context.
Research reveals that aardvarks feeding in daylight during droughts may be starving due to lack of food. A long-term study showed that drought caused a shift from nighttime to daytime activity, which was not enough to save the aardvarks from starvation.
Research shows that plant proteins like soy and wheat can help maintain skeletal muscle mass with age, but a larger dose is required to achieve the same effect as animal protein. A balanced diet that includes both animal and plant-based proteins is recommended for optimal muscle health.
A new study reveals that fish spawning and embryos are more susceptible to temperature changes than other life stages, with up to 60% of species at risk within a century. The findings highlight the critical importance of considering thermal bottlenecks across an organism's lifecycle in climate risk assessments.
A team of researchers discovered that distinct neural circuits in the forebrain send signals to the brain's control center to regulate sighing in response to stress, anxiety, or relief. Sighing rate increased when mice were confined, indicating a complex interplay between physiological and emotional inputs.
Researchers have discovered that a nodosaur, an armoured dinosaur, primarily ate fern leaves, with 88% of its stomach contents composed of chewed leaf material. The team found evidence of specific fern species, including those that grow in fire-scarred landscapes, suggesting the dinosaur adapted to exploit post-fire vegetation.
Researchers at Marshall University discover a sequence in Na/K-ATPase essential for stem cell differentiation and organogenesis. The study provides the first genetic evidence of this functionality, revealing a previously unrecognized common mechanism underlying animal embryonic development.
Scientists at University of Zurich create custom X-ray contrast agent 'XlinCA' for improved vascular imaging. This breakthrough allows for complete and uninterrupted visualization of blood vessels in humans and animals, reducing the need for animal experiments.
Giorgio Ascoli is working to enhance the NeuroMorpho.org repository by doubling its reconstructions and adding search functionality. He aims to link morphological, physiological, and molecular properties to create a spiking neural network model.
Researchers at McGill University have discovered a protein called TACAN that plays a crucial role in sensing mechanical pain. The study provides hope for the development of powerful new analgesic drugs to treat chronic pain conditions.
Researchers at University of California - San Francisco discovered how the brain generates imagined future scenarios, providing new insights into neurobiology of decision-making. Place cells in the hippocampus rapidly switch between present and possible paths, generating a 'menu' for other parts of the brain to make decisions.
Researchers propose combining fever resistance with temporary tolerance promoted by controlled hypothermia for studying and treating severe conditions like sepsis. This innovative concept aims to understand human physiology's integrated defense strategies against infection.
A team of researchers has identified a specific brain circuit linked to food impulsivity, which could lead to the development of therapeutics for overeating. The study found that activating this circuit, involving melanin-concentrating hormone, increases impulsive behavior around food without affecting motivation or enjoyment.
Researchers discovered a pattern of mechanisms improving retinal oxygen supply that evolved with enhanced vision in all bony vertebrates. The findings add to our understanding of the evolution of the eye, highlighting its dynamic morphology and relationship with retinal oxygen supply.
Biologists at Texas A&M University have found a genetic link between circadian clock genes and the vitamin A pathway in the brain of Monarch butterflies, enabling them to sense day length changes and trigger seasonal responses.
During diving, blue whales exhibit extreme bradycardia, with heart rates as low as 2 beats per minute. This contrasts with their normal resting heart rate of 15 beats per minute, highlighting the circulatory system's adaptability to accommodate deep dives.
Researchers have identified a genetic program controlling aging, which accumulates over time through stochastic physiological damage. This new understanding opens up possibilities for developing remedies to combat aging.
TARA Biosystems' human heart-on-a-chip technology shows promise in predicting preclinical systolic and diastolic in vivo observations for novel cardiac drug MYK-491. The platform uses human induced pluripotent stem cells to create physiologically relevant cardiac tissues.
Researchers discovered a genetic variant in the Epas1 gene that enables high-altitude deer mice to survive by increasing their heart rate in response to low oxygen levels. This adaptation is also found in Tibetans living at high altitudes, suggesting potential benefits for long-term survival.
Zebrafish larvae's ability to coordinate movement and maintain balance improves as they age, mirroring human brain function. The study suggests that the developing fish rely on their vestibular organs to oversee improvements in coordination needed to remain horizontal.
The study found measurable adverse biologic effects on lung health and cells in humans, animals, and tissue samples. Vaping has been linked to increased respiratory symptoms, including bronchitis-like symptoms and asthma, as well as possible lung damage and immunosuppression.
A new study framework improves and expands current practice in fossil color reconstruction by incorporating chemical signatures of different pigments. This framework provides a reliable and repeatable approach to test fundamental hypotheses related to animal physiology, ecology, and behavior.
Ancient rauisuchian fossils found in southern Africa reveal that these croc-like predators fed on vegetarian dinosaurs during the Triassic period. The discovery sheds light on how these carnivores thrived in a region close to the Antarctic Circle, challenging previous assumptions about their physiology.
A recent study suggests that osteocalcin, a hormone released by the skeleton, is necessary for the fight or flight response to be triggered in bony vertebrates. This finding challenges the long-held assumption that adrenaline drives this response.
Researchers at Clemson University discovered that salamanders use temperature rather than humidity to anticipate changes in their environment, and harness limb regeneration to minimize the impact of hot temperatures. This adaptation may have implications for other animals and plants, and could provide insights into regenerative medicine.
Researchers discovered GABA neurons play a crucial role in refining circadian output rhythms in mice, ensuring noiseless communication with neurons outside the suprachiasmatic nucleus. This finding could aid the development of new clinical approaches for diseases related to the circadian clock.
Researchers found that bar-headed geese can fly at altitudes of up to 8500m by reducing their metabolism, increasing oxygen transport per heartbeat and heart rate, and lowering blood temperature. This adaptation allows them to conserve energy and fly efficiently in low-oxygen conditions.
Researchers have discovered that bar-headed geese are able to fly high for long periods of time by reducing their metabolism in low-oxygen conditions. The study found that six out of seven birds could fly in moderately low-oxygen levels and three were willing to fly in severely low-oxygen conditions.
A clinical trial of alternate-day fasting found health benefits, including reduced inflammation and improved cholesterol levels. Participants experienced a mean calorie restriction of about 35% and lost an average of 3.5 kg during four weeks.
Researchers found that memory plays a crucial role in guiding mule deer migrations, with past migration routes and seasonal ranges having a significant influence on their choice of path. This cognitive map helps animals navigate tens to hundreds of miles between seasonal ranges.
Researchers discovered a scorpion toxin that targets the 'wasabi receptor', a protein found in nerve cells responsible for pain and inflammation. The toxin, WaTx, can be used to probe and study chronic pain and may lead to new non-opioid pain relievers.
A 289-million-year-old lizard-like animal exhibited a bone condition similar to Paget's disease, indicating early susceptibility to the disorder. The study provides evidence of an ancient case of a bone metabolic disorder, shedding light on the evolution of diseases in early life forms.
Researchers at Hokkaido University discovered that five-armed green brittle stars use a pumping movement pattern to coordinate their movements. A mathematical model suggests that internal fluid flow can achieve this coordination without neuronal activity.
Researchers found that ATL-mediated membrane tethering plays a critical role in maintaining cargo mobility and COPII formation in the ER. In ATL-deleted cells, cargo packaging into COPII vesicles was significantly reduced, highlighting the importance of ATL in regulating membrane trafficking.
Researchers discovered that a tidepool crustacean can survive oxygen deprivation without key genes, suggesting multiple survival mechanisms. The study highlights the importance of exploring alternative pathways for coping with hypoxic environments.
Researchers used a non-invasive device to investigate blood volume and oxygenation in freely diving harbor seals, finding that they constrict peripheral blood vessels and increase cerebral blood volume before submersion. This suggests that seals have cognitive control over their circulatory systems.
Researchers identified a crucial protein, Tox, that triggers dysfunctional immune responses in the body. This 'exhaustion mode' can be beneficial as it prevents excessive damage to cells and tissue but also allows tumor growth.
Researchers discover that progesterone triggers the mineralocortoid receptor in elephant sharks, while aldosterone and cortisol do not. This finding provides new insights into the evolution of human physiology.
Recent research suggests that pathogens may have driven the evolution of warm-blooded animals by providing a selective advantage. By maintaining stable body temperatures, mammals and birds can prime their immune systems to withstand virulent pathogens, making endothermy a more favorable strategy than ectothermy.
Researchers discovered that the highveld mole-rat is impervious to AITC due to altered ion channels, particularly the constitutively open channel NALCN. This change allows the highveld mole-rat to coexist with venomous ants.
Researchers studying white-throated sparrows found that their bodies undergo significant changes during migration, including altered immune function and tissue-repair mechanisms. These changes allow the birds to perform well despite limited sleep, raising potential implications for human health.
Researchers found that island lizards use behavioral thermoregulation to shield themselves from natural selection, slowing physiological evolution. This contradicts the 'island effect', which predicts faster evolution on islands.
A new study suggests that the brain uses sensory signals from the mouth and throat to temporarily quench thirst, but also relies on gut sensors to review this decision based on a drink's hydration potential. This helps regulate fluid balance within the body and may provide insights into diseases like high blood pressure.
A USC Dornsife-led study has provided the first global network model of the inner workings of the hypothalamus, a critical part of the brain that controls fundamental behaviors and physiology. The study reveals novel associations with several diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases and behavioral disorders.
A new study published in Frontiers in Physiology found that farmed Atlantic salmon's respiratory systems function normally even when carrying large loads of the piscine orthoreovirus. The research, conducted at the University of British Columbia, suggests that infected fish do not experience significant harm to their physiology.
New research from University of Wyoming scientists found that hungry moose are less likely to change their behavior to avoid wolves as winter progresses. Moose movements increased in early winter following encounters with wolves, but only when wolves were within a specific distance.
A recent review paper by San Francisco State University Professor Jonathon Stillman examines the potential impacts of future heat waves on humans and wildlife. The study suggests that extreme heat events could become more frequent and intense, posing significant threats to human mortality and wildlife populations.
Research reveals that gut microbiota is essential for thermoregulation, particularly in animals exposed to cold. The study found that gut microbiota helps stimulate the activation of Brown Adipose Tissue and promotes white adipose tissue browning, leading to improved thermogenic capacity.
A review of over 140 studies explores climate change's impact on animal life, including humans, through increased frequency and severity of heat waves. Behavioral changes, such as altered migration patterns and increased water demands, may lead to dehydration and cellular stress.
Researchers found that food odors impact protein degradation and cell recycling, leading to shorter lifespans. The study used Caenorhabditis elegans, a roundworm model organism, to uncover the role of olfactory neurons and microRNA molecule mir-71 in regulating digestive processes.
A new study reveals Cuvier's beaked whales dive up to 1,400 meters, lasting about an hour, with brief recovery times. The findings provide a baseline for studying their reactions to sonar and offer insights into the species' remarkable diving capability.
A male mouse can quickly identify a stranger's sex without prior experience, thanks to hard-wired brain circuitry. This ability is likely to apply to humans, as we share similar brain structure and function for recognizing a stranger's sex.
In a new study, researchers found that male livebearer fish evolved larger dorsal fins for fighting before using them in courtship displays to attract females. This evolution went hand-in-hand with the enlargement of the male dorsal fin, leading to rapid evolution in some species.
A new study found that American black bears can habituate to repeated drone exposure, showing increased tolerance to the flights over time. The researchers suggest that other animals are less likely to adapt to such disturbances.
Researchers have identified a molecule called SLO-1 that regulates motor function and lifespan in tiny aging worms. Targeting this molecule may slow down aging in humans and other animals by improving motor function and increasing lifespan.
Researchers discovered that metformin relaxes the key heart muscle protein titin, allowing the heart to properly fill with blood before pumping it around the body. This reduces blood supply to the rest of the body, leading to shortness of breath with exertion and difficulty exercising.
A new study from Stanford University suggests that the deep ocean's stable temperatures enabled the emergence of complex life forms during the Ediacaran period. The research proposes that animals needed a haven from temperature fluctuations, which were less severe in the deep ocean, allowing them to thrive with limited oxygen supplies.
Researchers propose guidelines for the therapeutic use of melatonin to address potential health risks, citing over 23,000 published studies. The guidelines aim to provide a systematic framework for analyzing melatonin's effects and role in human physiology and pathophysiology.