Scientists are studying the Arctic ground squirrel, a small rodent capable of surviving months at below-freezing body temperatures, in the hope of developing new ways to treat life-threatening medical emergencies.
Researchers say the squirrel’s remarkable ability to dramatically slow its metabolism during hibernation could one day help doctors protect patients suffering heart attacks, strokes and traumatic brain injuries by buying valuable time before definitive treatment.
Each autumn, Arctic ground squirrels in Alaska, Canada and Siberia retreat underground, where they remain in hibernation for up to eight months without food or water. During this period, their body temperature falls below freezing, with some organs cooling to temperatures that would be fatal for almost any other mammal, while their heartbeat and breathing slow to only a few beats and breaths per minute.
Scientists at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and collaborating institutions have spent decades investigating how the animals survive such extreme conditions. They believe understanding the biological mechanisms behind hibernation could lead to therapies that safely reduce human metabolism during medical emergencies.
One area of research focuses on adenosine, a naturally occurring molecule that regulates sleep. Laboratory studies have shown that compounds related to adenosine can trigger hibernation-like states in animals by slowing metabolism and lowering body temperature.
Researchers are also investigating brain circuits that regulate body temperature, as well as the squirrel’s natural resistance to tissue damage caused when blood flow returns after oxygen deprivation – a major cause of injury following heart attacks and strokes.
The findings could have applications beyond emergency medicine, including extending the lifespan of donated organs, reducing muscle loss in long-term hospital patients and protecting healthy tissue during cancer treatment.
Scientists caution that translating the research into human therapies remains a significant challenge. Existing experimental techniques are either too invasive or carry potential side effects, and humans cannot currently tolerate the extreme temperatures endured by Arctic ground squirrels.
Even so, researchers say the animal’s unique biology offers valuable insights into how slowing metabolism could improve survival in critical care. The work, supported by health, defence and space research agencies, has also sparked interest in the possibility of using hibernation-like states to support astronauts on future long-duration space missions.
While practical treatments are still years away, scientists believe the Arctic ground squirrel could help unlock new approaches to protecting the human body during its most vulnerable moments.
