Hibernating mammals recycle nitrogen to preserve lean muscle mass
the verdict
SUPPORTED
the evidence backs this
confidence 84/100
Evidence from multiple studies confirms that hibernating mammals recycle nitrogen (such as through urea-nitrogen salvage by gut microbes) to preserve lean muscle mass and prevent protein loss during prolonged fasting and inactivity.
Evidence for · 3
Nitrogen recycling buffers against ammonia toxicity from skeletal muscle breakdown in hibernating arctic ground squirrels.
2020 · cited by 30
Demonstrates that hibernating arctic ground squirrels buffer and recycle free nitrogen into essential and non-essential amino acids to prevent toxicity and maintain protein homeostasis.
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More for · 2
Microbial gene expression during hibernation in arctic ground squirrels: greater differences across gut sections than in response to pre-hibernation dietary protein content.
2023 · cited by 6
Highlights the role of the gut microbiome and urea nitrogen salvage in host-protein conservation during hibernation.
Microbial urea-nitrogen recycling in arctic ground squirrels: the effect of ambient temperature of hibernation.
2024 · cited by 5
Shows that urea-nitrogen recycling by gut microbes allows hibernating mammals to incorporate liberated nitrogen into host tissues.