Bone Metabolism During Hibernation in Mammals
Summary
Mammalian hibernators endure prolonged periods of immobility, reduced metabolic rate and minimal nutrient intake without suffering the bone loss typically seen in humans and other non-hibernating species under similar conditions. During hibernation, animals such as bears and ground squirrels enter torpor, a state characterised by suppressed physiological activity. Despite skeletal unloading, they maintain bone mass and strength through coordinated modulation of bone remodelling pathways. This involves dampening osteoclast-mediated resorption while preserving or modestly adjusting osteoblast-driven formation. At the molecular level, shifts in gene expression favour reduced signalling for osteoclast differentiation and enhanced mitochondrial energy production. Humoral factors present in hibernator serum further inhibit osteoclastogenesis, suggesting that both systemic and local mechanisms converge to stabilise the skeletal matrix. Understanding these adaptations offers promise for novel therapies to prevent disuse osteoporosis in humans, notably for patients on prolonged bed rest, astronauts exposed to microgravity and individuals with immobilising injuries.
Research from Nature Portfolio
A large-scale transcriptomic analysis of trabecular bone and bone marrow from hibernating and summer-active bears revealed a pronounced down-regulation of genes involved in osteoclast differentiation, bone resorption and apoptotic pathways during hibernation. In contrast, gene sets associated with osteoblast signalling showed no consistent directional change, indicating that suppression of resorption, rather than a boost in formation, underpins bone preservation. Concurrent transcriptional induction of pathways governing fatty acid β-oxidation, the tricarboxylic acid cycle and oxidative phosphorylation suggests that enhanced mitochondrial metabolism supports skeletal homeostasis under prolonged immobility. Activation of upstream regulators, notably the AMPK–PGC1α axis, appears to drive this metabolic shift, linking energy production to remodelling control.
Bone Metabolism During Hibernation in Mammals publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in bone metabolism during hibernation in mammals across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Osteoclast: A specialised cell responsible for bone resorption.
Osteoblast: A cell that produces new bone matrix and promotes mineralisation.
Trabecular bone: Spongy, porous bone tissue found at the ends of long bones and within vertebrae.
Torpor: A temporary state of reduced metabolic activity and lowered body temperature during hibernation.
Osteoclastogenesis: The process by which precursor cells differentiate into osteoclasts under the influence of factors such as RANKL.
References
- Transcriptional changes and preservation of bone mass in hibernating black bears. Scientific Reports (2021).
- The effects of hibernation and forced disuse (neurectomy) on bone properties in arctic ground squirrels. Physiological Reports (2016).
- Hibernating bear serum hinders osteoclastogenesis in-vitro. PLOS ONE (2020).
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