Cameron Houchmand - 19178152 2016-11-14
T46
Turnitin ID:
Hibernation in Mammals Opens Door into Research Surrounding Generation of Neurons in Adults
Is there a way to take advantage of the physiological effects of hibernation to aid in the research of nerve cells? Hibernation, usually thought of as a means of survival for mammals during unfavourable environmental conditions (Carey, Andrews, & Martin, 2003), was used by Victor Popov and colleagues at the Russian Academy of Sciences on March 10th. 2011 as a study technique in furthering knowledge about the cell cycle of nerve cells (neurons) in the brains of adult ground squirrels.
Previously, scientists believed that after entering adulthood, mammals could no longer generate new neurons …show more content…
A method of labelling was used in order to be able to observe the neurons under a light microscope. This was done by injecting a chemical called BrdU into each animal, which enabled viewing of only neurons going through growth & division (Popov et al. 2011). In order to gain a full analysis of neuron generation in adult mammals, Popov and colleagues used ground squirrels, which naturally undergo hibernation in hypothermic (low temperature) conditions. Work surrounding the response of cells in mammals at suboptimal temperatures suggests several effects on the cell cycle. While some research suggests that the cell cycle takes longer at lower than optimal temperature, a lack of research surrounds the specific effects of hypothermic temperatures on the cell cycle (Popov et al. 2011). Despite this lack of relevant research, Popov and colleagues went forward with this theory of using low temperatures that cause hibernation as a means of prolonging the cell cycle to more efficiently study neuron growth and division (Popov et al. 2011). Popov and colleagues found that hibernation ended up halting certain processes of mitosis (cell division), allowing close observation of the labelled …show more content…
2011). This figure shows a section of the brain of a ground squirrel in hibernation using a light microscope, with image (b) a magnification of a portion of image (a). Arrows indicate neurons undergoing different phases of cell division (mitosis). Typically, the phases of mitosis are not observable in mammals at normal body temperature; as one can see however, this is not the case, where neurons in the brain are clearly shown at different stages in image (b) (Popov et al. 2011). This figure provides an explicit example of low hibernation-inducing temperatures essentially halting the process of cell division, allowing thorough observation of neurons undergoing division. One can also see in the portion of the figure labelled “Telophase” that BrdU injections remained for a period of time after division, allowing a window of observation after cell division was
T46
Turnitin ID:
Hibernation in Mammals Opens Door into Research Surrounding Generation of Neurons in Adults
Is there a way to take advantage of the physiological effects of hibernation to aid in the research of nerve cells? Hibernation, usually thought of as a means of survival for mammals during unfavourable environmental conditions (Carey, Andrews, & Martin, 2003), was used by Victor Popov and colleagues at the Russian Academy of Sciences on March 10th. 2011 as a study technique in furthering knowledge about the cell cycle of nerve cells (neurons) in the brains of adult ground squirrels.
Previously, scientists believed that after entering adulthood, mammals could no longer generate new neurons …show more content…
A method of labelling was used in order to be able to observe the neurons under a light microscope. This was done by injecting a chemical called BrdU into each animal, which enabled viewing of only neurons going through growth & division (Popov et al. 2011). In order to gain a full analysis of neuron generation in adult mammals, Popov and colleagues used ground squirrels, which naturally undergo hibernation in hypothermic (low temperature) conditions. Work surrounding the response of cells in mammals at suboptimal temperatures suggests several effects on the cell cycle. While some research suggests that the cell cycle takes longer at lower than optimal temperature, a lack of research surrounds the specific effects of hypothermic temperatures on the cell cycle (Popov et al. 2011). Despite this lack of relevant research, Popov and colleagues went forward with this theory of using low temperatures that cause hibernation as a means of prolonging the cell cycle to more efficiently study neuron growth and division (Popov et al. 2011). Popov and colleagues found that hibernation ended up halting certain processes of mitosis (cell division), allowing close observation of the labelled …show more content…
2011). This figure shows a section of the brain of a ground squirrel in hibernation using a light microscope, with image (b) a magnification of a portion of image (a). Arrows indicate neurons undergoing different phases of cell division (mitosis). Typically, the phases of mitosis are not observable in mammals at normal body temperature; as one can see however, this is not the case, where neurons in the brain are clearly shown at different stages in image (b) (Popov et al. 2011). This figure provides an explicit example of low hibernation-inducing temperatures essentially halting the process of cell division, allowing thorough observation of neurons undergoing division. One can also see in the portion of the figure labelled “Telophase” that BrdU injections remained for a period of time after division, allowing a window of observation after cell division was