OHSU scientists reveal way to turn on hibernation in rats, pointing to possible future therapy in humans

Think Out Loud

Animals such as grizzly bears and Arctic ground squirrels have evolved the ability to hibernate as a way to survive winter months of extreme cold. During hibernation, their core body temperatures drop and their heart rates and metabolic activities slow to conserve energy. They also consume less oxygen during this inactivity.

But what if you could make non-hibernating species – including humans - hibernate? How could you control hibernation as a therapy to help people recover from strokes or heart attacks, or administer it to astronauts to help them endure a yearslong trip to Mars? Scientists at Oregon Health & Science University have embarked on a first step to exploring these questions by inducing a state of hibernation in rats, which don’t normally hibernate. Joining us to discuss this research is Domenico Tupone, a research assistant professor of neurology at OHSU.