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Scientists have discovered that naked mole rats can survive for 18 minutes without oxygen.
Naked mole rats are described as hairless, cold-blooded mammals that belong to the rodent family. The species has been reported to live for more than 30 years. Aside from this, they are also resistant to pain and can regulate their breathing, enabling them to live underground in colonies. Because of this, a team of scientists from the University of Illinois tested the naked mole rats’ ability to survive without oxygen.
In order to test the naked mole rats’ ability, the team conducted two experiments. First, they placed some naked mole rats in a box with only 5% oxygen. According to the researchers, it would take mice 15 minutes to die if subjected to the same conditions. Results of the experiment showed that naked mole rats can survive oxygen deprivation for at least five hours.
In the second experiment, the researchers placed some naked mole rats in another box. Instead of oxygen, it contained a type of gas called nitrogen, which causes suffocation. Records show that the naked mole rats survived for 18 minutes.
After further investigation, researchers discovered that naked mole rats move less to endure oxygen deprivation. In addition, they use fructose, a simple sugar mainly found in fruits. This sugar is transported to the naked mole rat’s brain and heart cells to keep its body functioning.
Following this breakthrough, the scientists hope to use their initial findings to advance heart attack and stroke research. In particular, they intend to decrease the damages of oxygen deprivation to the brain by using the naked mole rats’ technique.