Neurons that regulate mouse torpor (2020) Hrvatin et al

Colin · Jun 16, 2020

The advent of endothermy, which is achieved through the continuous homeostatic regulation of body temperature and metabolism, is a defining feature of mammalian and avian evolution. However, when challenged by food deprivation or harsh environmental conditions, many mammalian species initiate adaptive energy-conserving survival strategies—including torpor and hibernation—during which their body temperature decreases far below its homeostatic set-point. How homeothermic mammals initiate and regulate these hypothermic states remains largely unknown. Here we show that entry into mouse torpor, a fasting-induced state with a greatly decreased metabolic rate and a body temperature as low as 20 °C, is regulated by neurons in the medial and lateral preoptic area of the hypothalamus. We show that restimulation of neurons that were activated during a previous bout of torpor is sufficient to initiate the key features of torpor, even in mice that are not calorically restricted. Among these neurons we identify a population of glutamatergic Adcyap1-positive cells, the activity of which accurately determines when mice naturally initiate and exit torpor, and the inhibition of which disrupts the natural process of torpor entry, maintenance and arousal. Taken together, our results reveal a specific neuronal population in the mouse hypothalamus that serves as a core regulator of torpor. This work forms a basis for the future exploration of mechanisms and circuitry that regulate extreme hypothermic and hypometabolic states, and enables genetic access to monitor, initiate, manipulate and study these ancient adaptations of homeotherm biology.
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Paywall: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2387-5

View-only access to the paper is available via the link at the end of the article in The Scientist; see below.

Colin · Jun 16, 2020

An article in The Scientist discusses this and another hibernation study, published togethor in the same issue of Nature.

https://www.the-scientist.com/news-...ls-that-control-hibernation-like-states-67624

View-only access to the papers is available via the links at the end of the article.

I don't suppose that it is surprizing that the hypothalamus is involved in hibernation but it is interesting nevertheless. And there being a vestigial, hibernation facility in humans is speculated.

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Neurons that regulate mouse torpor (2020) Hrvatin et al

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