Unlike humans, bears retain their muscle tone when moribund for long periods.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on SpringerLink
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout


References
Nelson, R. A. et al. Int. Conf. Bear Res. Manag. 5, 284–290 (1983).
Nelson, R. A. et al. Am. J. Physiol. 224, 491–496 (1973).
Nicks, D. K., Beneke, W. M., Key, R. M. & Timson, B. F. J. Anat. 163, 1–5 (1989).
Musacchia, X. J., Steffen, J. M. & Deavers, D. R. Aviat. Space Environ. Med. 54, 1015–1020 (1983).
Booth, F. W. & Kelso, J. R. Pflugers Arch. 342, 231–238 (1973).
Tinker, D. B., Harlow, H. J. & Beck, T. D. I. Physiol. Zool. 71, 414–424 (1998).
Sigg, M. D., Hasinoff, I. K. & Iaizzo, P. A. Progr. Anesthesiol. XII, 127–152 (1998).
Brass, T. J., Loushin, M. K. H., Day, J. W. & Iaizzo, P. A. J. Med. Eng. Tech. 20, 67–74 (1996).
Quinlan, J. G., Iaizzo, P. A., Lambert, E. H. & Gronert, G. A. Musc. Nerve 12, 119–125 (1989).
Berg, H. E., Larsson, L. & Tesch, P. A. J. Appl. Physiol. 82, 182–188 (1997).
Nelson, R. A., Jones, J. D., Wahner, H. W., McGill, D. B. & Code, C. F. Mayo Clin. Proc. 50, 141–146 (1975).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Harlow, H., Lohuis, T., Beck, T. et al. Muscle strength in overwintering bears. Nature 409, 997 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/35059165
Issue date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/35059165
This article is cited by
-
Hypothyroidism in hibernating brown bears
Thyroid Research (2023)
-
Blood transcriptomics mirror regulatory mechanisms during hibernation—a comparative analysis of the Djungarian hamster with other mammalian species
Pflügers Archiv - European Journal of Physiology (2023)
-
Regulation of protein and oxidative energy metabolism are down-regulated in the skeletal muscles of Asiatic black bears during hibernation
Scientific Reports (2022)
-
Changes in liver microRNA expression and their possible regulatory role in energy metabolism-related genes in hibernating black bears
Journal of Comparative Physiology B (2021)
-
Nitrogen recycling buffers against ammonia toxicity from skeletal muscle breakdown in hibernating arctic ground squirrels
Nature Metabolism (2020)