Life Lines by Dr. Dolittle

Agriculture, Aquaculture, and Livestock

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Red, White, and Bison: Celebrating Freedom and National Bison Month

Happy 4th of July! What a perfect time to also honor National Bison Month! This month, we celebrate an icon of the American landscape. Bison are incredible animals, not just for their symbolic significance but also for their remarkable adaptations to extreme environments. As highlighted by the National Park Service’s Bison Bellows, their resilience in the face of brutal winters is extraordinary. Bison are uniquely adapted to harsh winter conditions […]

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Ocean oddity: how teleost fish stay hydrated in saltwater

It may sound strange to hear that saltwater fish need to stay hydrated. After all, they live in water. However, a review published in Physiology describes how nearly all saltwater fish are thought to have evolved from freshwater ancestors, and many maintain similar levels of salt in their blood as freshwater animals. Living in a saltwater environment means that these fish have to find a way to get rid of […]

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No air? No problem: Nature’s ultimate survivalists

Hypoxia and anoxia tolerance was a hot topic at the 2025 American Physiology Summit last month. Here are the highlights: Hafsa Yaseen and Natalie Anne Heath presented their research from Dr. Joseph Santin’s laboratory at the University of Missouri exploring how adult bullfrogs (Aquarana catesbeianus) protect their brain function following hibernation, a period when oxygen and glucose levels are often very low. The team discovered that bullfrogs could adjust their […]

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Physiology on the road: Celebrating physiology in Indiana

I am excited to announce that the Indiana Physiological Society, a chapter of the American Physiological Society, is hosting their annual meeting tomorrow! The event will take place at the University of Southern Indiana. The keynote address will be given by Dr. Thad Wilson, renowned professor of physiology and educator at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine. The conference also includes hands-on activities to improve teaching in physiology. It […]

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2024 “Ig Nobel” prize-winning research

The results are in (drumroll please). Here are some highlights from the 34th First Annual “Ig Nobel” Prize ceremony held on September 12th at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The Ig Nobel prize is designed to recognize “achievements that first make people laugh and then make them think”. Physiology Following the Covid-19 pandemic, an international team of researchers published a study in 2021 eloquently titled, “Mammalian enteral ventilation ameliorates respiratory […]

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What sea turtles can teach us about hypoxia tolerance

Imagine being able to explore the Earth’s oceans without needing special oxygen equipment. Loggerhead sea turtles have this ability and can actually hold their breath for up to 7 hours! According to the Guiness Book of World Records, Budimir Šobat from Croatia set the record in 2021 for being able to hold his breath for 24 minutes and 37.36 seconds underwater. While quite remarkable, he would need to hold his […]

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2024 August Krogh Award Recipient: Dr. Martin Grosell

Congratulations to Dr. Martin Grosell, recipient of the 2024 August Krogh Distinguished Lectureship from the Comparative and Evolutionary Physiology section of the American Physiological Society! Dr. Grosell is professor and chair of the Department of Marine Biology and Ecology at the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science in Florida. The Krogh award is sponsored by Novo Nordisk Foundation and is awarded to a member of […]

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Role of sphingolipids in metabolic syndrome

Sedentary horses, like humans, have an increased risk of developing metabolic syndrome characterized by obesity and abnormal elevations in insulin concentrations (hyperinsulinemia). Insulin is a hormone released from the pancreas that is responsible for lowering blood sugar after a meal by promoting the uptake of glucose into tissues. People and animals with insulin resistance are not able to respond normally to the hormone resulting in high blood sugar.    Sphingolipids […]

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Improving the health of fish exposed to arsenic and increasing environmental temperatures

Speaking of stress…scientists at the ICAR – National Institute of Abiotic Stress Management in India are exploring the use of dietary copper to help reduce stress and improve the health of fish exposed to environmental pollutants such as arsenic. Copper is an essential element for animals and humans. It is involved in bone formation and growth, nervous system function, metabolism, immune system function, and antioxidant production.1 Warming aquatic temperatures are […]

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Study examines how statin exposure affects cholesterol metabolism in fish

Despite its bad reputation, cholesterol serves many important functions in the body. It is necessary for normal cell structure and is a precursor for the formation of steroid hormones, vitamin D, and bile acids. Too much “bad” cholesterol (LDL), however, can promote cardiovascular diseases and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. For this reason, many animals tightly regulate cholesterol levels in the body. Fish often have higher cholesterol levels than humans and […]

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