Citation
Protein turnover in muscle and liver during hibernation
TL;DR
Bears recycle urea into protein to maintain muscle mass
This research explained one of hibernation's mysteries: how bears maintain muscle mass despite months of immobility. The urea-to-protein recycling mechanism demonstrates remarkable metabolic efficiency during scarcity. For business, this illustrates how organizations must actively maintain core capabilities during hibernation, not just preserve them passively.
Key Findings from Lohuis et al. (2007)
- Bears recycle urea into protein to maintain muscle mass
- Protein synthesis continues despite zero food intake
- Muscle mass is actively maintained, not just passively preserved
- Metabolic efficiency dramatically increases during hibernation