Oxygen to the brain to stay submerged

2008/02/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Zoologia

One of the secrets to underwater survival of marine mammals is oxygen transport, according to studies by a zoologist at the University of California. This prevents brain activity from slowing down, although the body is immersed in a situation similar to hibernation.

To reach this situation, marine mammals adapt. On the one hand, under water, do not vibrate to reduce body temperature. On the other hand, they slow the heart rate and prioritize cerebral hemorrhage by compressing muscle blood vessels. Thus, they remain alert as they swim.

To understand this process, the California zoologist has studied the brains of sixteen mammals and found a big difference between land and sea. In those of sea, the number of oxygen transporting proteins is much higher than in those of land, with more globines. Because of this, despite being in a state of hypoxia, seals usually have neurons working for an hour; neurons in mice, for example, can only work for five minutes.