Burmese pythons display a marked increase in heart mass after a large meal. We investigated the molecular mechanisms of this physiological heart growth with the goal of applying this knowledge to the mammalian heart. We found that heart growth in pythons is characterized by myocyte hypertrophy in the absence of cell proliferation and by activation of physiological signal transduction pathways. Despite high levels of circulating lipids, the postprandial python heart does not accumulate triglycerides or fatty acids. Instead, there is robust activation of pathways of fatty acid transport and oxidation combined with increased expression and activity of superoxide dismutase, a cardioprotective enzyme. We also identified a combination of fatty acids in python plasma that promotes physiological heart growth when injected into either pythons or mice.Heart muscle cells grew in size, but they didn't grow in number.
Size really does matter, after all ...
They just caught one in Florida that had just eaten a deer!
I predict they find out how to make human hearts gynormous, with the result being better endurance and strength. The official sports league will outlaw its usage, along with the AMA, because of “complications” and the “unfair advantage” athletes would have over the non-treated. IOW, if it works as hoped, they will not approve it for use in America.
Novel strategy stymies SARS et al. (viral replication)
New findings contradict dominant theory in Alzheimer’s disease
Focus Issue: Recruiting Players for a Game of ERK
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Any relationship to the pathology of cardiomegaly in humans though? Not sure if it would be a good idea to ‘eat a cow’ like some say they’d like to do...once in a while.
While true, the carry over to humans is doubtful. I am sceptical