Abstract
Mammalian hibernation is thought as a phenomenon that animals maintain low body temperature for a long time. Therefore, an artificial induction of hibernation has often been confused with the induction of low body temperature. However, hibernation is developed through a physiological modulation that protects organisms from lethal hypothermia, diseases and stresses. Our studies have shown that myocardial Ca2+ regulation is circannually modulated for tolerating low body temperatures during the hibernation season and further identified hibernation-specific protein (HP) complex as a promising hibernation hormone that is increased and activated in the brain under control of an endogenously generated circannual rhythm. By clarifying the hormonal control of hibernation, an artificial control of hibernation will be realized.
