Articles tagged with Animal Physiology
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 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 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 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.
A new study suggests that womb kicks may play a role in helping babies develop a sense of their own body. The research, published in Scientific Reports, found that brainwaves produced during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep fire in the corresponding hemisphere when a baby kicks its limbs.
Researchers from Technical University of Munich identified a previously unknown virus causing mass mortality in brown trout. The piscine reovirus is related to the virus infecting salmon in North Atlantic and Pacific, causing significant economic damage.
Researchers found that starving ticks have higher activity levels and increased questing behavior to find a meal. Their metabolism speeds up by 100% after three months without food, preparing them for an imminent meal.
Research explores effects of crude oil on native salmon populations, finding exposure causes toxic changes in hearts, brains, and performance abilities. Crude oil also leads to long-term consequences including mortality and brain damage.
A new study finds that individual rainbow trout strains from Canada and California exhibit varying levels of heat and oxygen tolerance. This natural variation may help some fish survive global warming, while others are more vulnerable.
Researchers found evidence of rapid adaptation in Burmese python genomes, with changes in genes related to cell division and organ growth. The study suggests that the snakes are adapting to more regular feeding opportunities, leading to increased efficiency as predators.
Long-term testosterone supplementation has been linked to increased blood pressure in obese rats, raising concerns about its safety in certain populations. The study suggests that hormone therapy may not be beneficial for men with heart disease risk factors, highlighting the need for more research on complex effects of testosterone.
A study found that a high-fat, high-sugar diet may accumulate fat around the uterus of female rats, potentially impairing future fertility. Researchers observed no change in glucose tolerance or insulin sensitivity compared to control animals.
A new study found that extreme dieting in female rats led to a decrease in metabolic factors and functions, including body weight and blood pressure, but resulted in a higher accumulation of abdominal fat. This increase in belly fat may cause long-term health risks for people who have previously crash dieted.
Researchers found a combination of liraglutide and enalapril effectively addresses all symptoms of postmenopausal polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), including metabolic syndrome. The treatment promotes significant weight loss, reduces insulin resistance, and normalizes blood pressure.
A new study from the Monell Chemical Senses Center reveals that healthy animals' bodily odors change when they are near sick animals, potentially impacting social contacts and disease spread. The findings suggest that exposure to sickness-related odors can trigger protective responses in others.
A study by Dr. Tom Weihmann shows that body dynamics depend strongly on the number of propulsive legs, with increasing leg numbers impeding energy recovery. This discovery could explain quadrupedal animals adopting bipedalism and potentially inform control mechanisms for fast-running robots.
Researchers discovered that soy protein can counter negative effects of menopause on bone and metabolic health in postmenopausal women. Soy-based diets were found to improve bone strength and metabolic function for both rats with and without ovaries.
A study of five coralline algae species found that organismal size is the main factor in determining physiological performance under acidic conditions. The findings provide insight into how different species will respond to ocean acidification and its effects on marine ecosystems.
Researchers at the University of Arizona found that horses experience significant stress reduction when inhaled lavender from a diffuser, as measured by heart rate variability. The data showed a significant increase in relaxation signals such as neck lowering and licking, indicating a calming effect on the horses.
Researchers confirm that pigeons rely on familiar smells to find their way home, not artificial odors. A study published in Journal of Comparative Physiology A found that pigeons exposed to natural environmental odorants performed significantly better at homing.
Professor Martin Grosell received the Award of Excellence in fish physiology from the American Fisheries Society for his groundbreaking research on the effects of oil on marine fish. He is also a renowned expert in environmental physiology and toxicology, with over 200 peer-reviewed publications.
A new study has proposed the maximum bioaccumulation level of 9 metals that poses no ecological risk to aquatic organisms. The study, conducted in mining areas in Asturias, has established ecological threshold concentrations for 7 metals and two metalloids, which are considered safe levels for conservation.
A new study by Harvard University researchers suggests that natural selection can favor different personality types in lizards, affecting their behavior and survival. In the experiment, bold lizards were found to survive longer when predators were present, but their mortality increased when predators were absent.
Researchers used human stem cells to restore heart function in monkeys with heart failure, finding that new muscle tissue had grown within damaged regions and restored heart function. The study suggests a potential treatment approach for people with heart failure.
Researchers have developed a rhesus macaque model to study Zika brain pathology, revealing similar brain lesions as in human infants with congenital Zika syndrome. The findings suggest that therapies can be tested using fewer animals, providing hope for the development of new treatments.
A new study reveals human activity is driving mammals to adopt nightlife, changing behavior and physiology; high levels of disturbance lead to increased nocturnal activity by a factor of 1.36.
A new study published in Psychoneuroendocrinology found that veterans with PTSD who use service dogs exhibit higher cortisol awakening response and area under the curve compared to those on the waitlist. This suggests potential physiological benefits from having a service dog, including reduced stress levels and improved sleep quality.
A new study found that white shark activity increases dramatically when interacting with cage-diving operators, indicating potential behavioral changes. The researchers tracked ten white sharks at South Australia's Neptune Islands, showing a 61% higher dynamic body acceleration when interacting with tourists.
A new gene therapy approach has shown dramatic reduction of post-infarction arrhythmias in mice by electrically coupling non-excitable cells to undamaged heart cells. The treatment involves introducing a single gene, Connexin43, which bridges the conduction block in damaged hearts.
A new study reveals that thermal physiological differences allowed Greater Antillean anoles to occupy different microclimates, facilitating species coexistence. The research found that species diverged in thermal tolerance and sprint performance, with warmer environment species having higher maximum temperatures and optimal temperatures.
Researchers at the University of Cincinnati discovered that female mosquitoes bite not only to get protein but also to quench their thirst during a drought. Dehydration prompted as many as 30 percent of female mosquitoes to seek a blood meal, increasing the risk of disease transmission.
Research from the University of Bath found that exercise can increase immune cells and improve response to flu jabs, contradicting a long-held myth. The study suggests that low numbers of immune cells after exercise are not a sign of suppression, but rather a signal that cells are working in other parts of the body.
Researchers at Duke University discovered that hogfish sense light with their skin, which differs from eye-based vision. The skin's unique ability allows it to detect changes in brightness or wavelength, such as moving shadows or light fluctuations, enabling the fish to adapt its color pattern accordingly.
A new in-depth review from the Journal of Dairy Science examines necessary minerals and their mechanisms for absorption in cows. The review highlights two key methods, paracellular and transcellular absorption, and discusses factors affecting mineral uptake.
Scientists at University of Illinois create artificially intelligent ocean predator called Cyberslug, which reacts to food and responds to its own kind like the actual sea slug Pleurobranchaea californica does. The virtual creature has simple self-awareness, relating motivation and memories to external world perception.
Hawkeye's advanced eyesight can be used to explain the physiology of the human eye and its limitations. This can lead to discussions on genetic engineering, wearable technologies, and responsible innovation in genetics. The article suggests using Hawkeye as a tool for engaging students in scientific communication and outreach.
Researchers found that Antarctic fish can adapt to warmer waters but are unable to withstand both climate stressors simultaneously. The study suggests these fish must use their existing physiology, which is limited, to cope with the challenges.
Researchers discovered snakes use unique skin movement to propel themselves forward in a straight line. This rectilinear locomotion gives them an advantage in confined spaces and could inform robotics for search-and-rescue operations and underwater inspections.
Researchers have discovered that brain cells in the hippocampus process spatial information about both oneself and others. This 'buddy system' allows for joint location awareness, enabling rats to track each other's movements through a maze. The findings extend our understanding of the hippocampus' role as the brain's positioning system.
Researchers found that noise pollution from gas compressors causes chronic stress in birds, leading to lower stress hormone levels and increased anxiety. This stress can have long-term effects on bird fitness and survival rates, particularly among young birds.