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Body Protein Sparing in Hibernators: A Source for Biomedical Innovation
Fabrice Bertile1, Caroline Habold2, Yvon Le Maho2,3
1University of Strasbourg, CNRS, IPHC UMR 7178, Laboratoire de Spectrométrie de Masse Bio-Organique, Strasbourg, France.
Frontiers in Physiology
|March 8, 2021
Summary
Hibernating animals conserve lean body mass and muscle during torpor by minimizing protein use. Studying these mechanisms may offer new strategies for human muscle atrophy and obesity treatment.
Area of Science:
- Physiology
- Molecular Biology
- Comparative Biology
Background:
- Proteins are vital for cell structure and physiological functions; their loss can cause severe health issues.
- Muscle disuse and starvation lead to significant body protein loss, posing challenges for immobilized, elderly, or obese individuals.
- Current treatments for protein loss, like exercise and nutrition, offer only partial compensation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the metabolic, physiological, and behavioral adaptations in hibernating mammals that preserve lean body mass.
- To explore the mechanisms underlying protein and muscle sparing during hibernation.
- To identify potential applications of hibernation strategies for human health and medical treatments.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on hibernation physiology, metabolism, and behavior in mammals.
- Analysis of adaptations related to energetics, body temperature, and nutrition during torpor.
- Examination of molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in protein conservation.
Main Results:
- Hibernators minimize body protein utilization by relying on fat reserves during torpor.
- Some hibernators replenish proteins during arousal periods by consuming food.
- Hibernation strategies involve adaptations to allometry, rewarming needs, and fasting duration, influencing protein saving capacity.
Conclusions:
- Hibernation offers a natural model for understanding how to preserve lean body mass and muscle.
- Insights from hibernators can inform the development of novel therapies for human muscle atrophy and obesity.
- Understanding hibernation mechanisms may also advance ex vivo organ preservation techniques.
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