Scientists from The Yale University School of Medicine (USA) reported on an animal that can survive without water and food for up to eight months.
This was reported by URA-Inform with reference to T4.
We are talking about about striped ground squirrels (Ictidomys tridecemlineatus), which live on the plains of North America.
Researchers have found that during hibernation, these rodents maintain the level of ions in the blood at the level of the waking state. This is achieved by retaining water in the body and moving ions into tissues where they are not released back into the bloodstream.
Some gopher hormones have also been found to act as antidiuretics, helping to retain water. The parts of the brain responsible for producing these hormones remain active even during hibernation.
Scientists have also uncovered a mechanism that allows ground squirrels to suppress feelings of hunger and thirst: although the brain registers a lack of water, the signals do not reach the areas that cause desire drink. During the experiment, the researchers woke up the ground squirrels and offered them water, but the animals refused it, preferring salt instead.
The knowledge gained can be used to develop artificial sleep technologies that will be useful during long-term space missions .
It also became known that a ferocious predator with a cute face was spotted in Kyiv (video).
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