A group of researchers have been investigating why the naked mole rat is immune to acid-induced pain. Now they have an answer. Since they live in densely packed, unventilated environments, carbon dioxide builds up. In most animals, this is converted into acid in the body tissues, causing a great deal of pain. It turns out that mole rats have an altered ion channel in their pain receptors that is closed off in the presence of acid. This evolutionary feat may soon have implications for the treatment of patients with inflammatory diseases, who suffer from a constant activation of similar ion channels.
No comments:
Post a Comment