Suppression of neurons in circumventricular organs enables months-long survival without water in thirteen-lined ground squirrels

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Junkins, Madeleine S.; Feng, Ni Y.; Merriman, Dana K.; Bagriantsev, Sviatoslav N.; Gracheva, Elena O.
• 署名单位: Yale University; Yale University; Yale University; Yale University; University of Wisconsin System; University of Wisconsin Oshkosh; Yale University; Wesleyan University
• 刊物名称: SCIENCE
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0036-13406
• DOI: 10.1126/science.adp8358
• 发表日期: 2024-11-29
• 关键词: sodium appetite; subfornical organ; angiotensin-ii; thirst; hibernation; vasculosum; inhibition; mechanisms; expression; brain

摘要

Water deprivation is a life-threatening condition that engages a protective physiological response to couple osmolyte retention with potentiation of thirst. This response, typical for most mammals, safeguards against short-term water deprivation but fails in the long term. Thirteen-lined ground squirrels (Ictidomys tridecemlineatus) use the short-term response during summer, whereas during winter, they lack thirst and survive without water for months. In this work, we show that long-term thirst suppression occurs despite hormonal and behavioral signs of a substantial fluid deficit and originates from hypoactivity of neurons in the circumventricular organs, which exhibit marked functional suppression during winter that blunts their sensitivity to thirst cues. Our work reveals a notable capacity of the evolutionarily conserved brain regions that control fluid homeostasis in mammals to enable long-term survival without water.