Induction of a torpor-like hypothermic and hypometabolic state in rodents by ultrasound
Yang Y. Yuan J. Field R. Ye D. Hu Z. Xu K. Xu L. Gong Y. Yue Y. Kravitz A. Bruchas M. Cui J. Brestoff J. Chen H (2023). Induction of a torpor-like hypothermic and hypometabolic state in rodents by ultrasound. Nature Metabolism, 5(5), 789-803. https://doi.org/10.1038/s42255-023-00804-z
- Overall rating
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(4.0) 1 review
- Authors
- Yaoheng Yang, Jinyun Yuan, Rachael L. Field, Dezhuang Ye, Zhongtao Hu, Kevin Xu, Lu Xu, Yan Gong, Yimei Yue, Alexxai V. Kravitz, Michael R. Bruchas, Jianmin Cui, Jonathan R. Brestoff, Hong Chen
- Journal
- Nature Metabolism
- First published
- 2023
- Number of citations
- 78
- Type
- Journal Article
- DOI
- 10.1038/s42255-023-00804-z
Abstract
AbstractTorpor is an energy-conserving state in which animals dramatically decrease their metabolic rate and body temperature to survive harsh environmental conditions. Here, we report the noninvasive, precise and safe induction of a torpor-like hypothermic and hypometabolic state in rodents by remote transcranial ultrasound stimulation at the hypothalamus preoptic area (POA). We achieve a long-lasting (>24 h) torpor-like state in mice via closed-loop feedback control of ultrasound stimulation with automated detection of body temperature. Ultrasound-induced hypothermia and hypometabolism (UIH) is triggered by activation of POA neurons, involves the dorsomedial hypothalamus as a downstream brain region and subsequent inhibition of thermogenic brown adipose tissue. Single-nucleus RNA-sequencing of POA neurons reveals TRPM2 as an ultrasound-sensitive ion channel, the knockdown of which suppresses UIH. We also demonstrate that UIH is feasible in a non-torpid animal, the rat. Our findings establish UIH as a promising technology for the noninvasive and safe induction of a torpor-like state.
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Overall quite an interesting read. This is not an area of work I am deeply familiar with, so I'm struck by the low n, which in this case, may be okay as a proof of principle of this new technique, but this is not really discussed as a factor. The description of statistical analysis is pretty simplified.