Hibernation presents a natural model of extreme
physiology. The 13-lined ground squirrel (Spermophilus
tridecemlineatus, a “local” species) displays
seasonal neuroprotection of cardiorespiratory circuits in the
brain. During torpor, these animals maintain a body temperature
at or slightly above freezing and reduce their heart rates and
respiratory rhythms by 99%. The major focus of our project is
to understand the neuroprotective changes that accompany the
hibernation phenotype. Departmental colleagues, Drs. Hannah
Carey and Steve
Johnson, are collaborating
with us on this project. We are using molecular, cellular and systems
levels techniques, including RT-PCR, immunocytochemistry, western
blots, and single cell recordings from cardiorespiratory
regions of the braisntem.
Publications
Related to This Topic:
Hengen,
K.B., Johnson, S.M., Carey, H.V. and M. Behan.
2007. Neural control of cardiorespiratory function in ground
squirrels during hibernation. FASEB J. 21:965.15.
Hengen,
K.B., Johnson, S.M., Carey, H.V. and M. Behan.
Functional and molecular partitioning of the brain provides neuroprotection
to cardiorespiratory nuclei in ground squirrels during hibernation.
FASEB J. 2008 22:757.2
Hengen,
K.B., Johnson, S.M., Carey, H.V., and M. Behan 2008. Seasonally
expressed remodeling of GABAA receptors in the hibernating brain
confers viability in the face of anesthetic overdose. Soc. Neurosci.
Abstr. 531.22.
Hengen,
K.B., Johnson, S.M., Carey, H.V., Behan, M. 2009. Seasonally altered
GABAA receptors in medullary cardiorespiratory nuclei make neurons
unresponsive to high doses of pentobarbital in hibernating, but
not summer active, ground squirrels. FASEB J.
