Some animals can enter a state of low body temperature and low metabolism, called torpor, allowing them to conserve energy and survive in harsh environments. Torpor is classified into two types based on its duration: hibernation, which lasts from several days to weeks during the winter, and daily torpor, which lasts less than 24 hours. Over 200 animal species, including rodents and primates, have been found to undergo hibernation or torpor.
The central nervous system, particularly the hypothalamus, is believed to integrate information on internal nutritional status, environmental temperature, and circadian and seasonal rhythms to regulate the initiation, maintenance, and termination of hibernation and torpor. However, the detailed mechanisms remain unclear. Our research group works to elucidate the neural circuits that control hibernation and torpor using whole-brain screening with tissue-clearing techniques, optogenetics, and in vivo gene editing technologies in mouse and hamster models.