Absence of a glutamatergic channel arrest mechanisms in hypoxic naked mole-rat cortex.

Summary: Naked mole-rats are famous for their amazing ability to survive a long time without oxygen. In most animals, a lack of oxygen causes brain cells to panic. This panic opens up special gates (called channels) that let in too much calcium, which quickly damages and kills the cells. Scientists thought naked mole-rats might survive by simply locking these gates shut—a clever trick called "channel arrest" used by some other animals like turtles. However, this study found that naked mole-rats do not lock their brain channels! Instead, their brains keep these gates open and calcium still rushes in. This means they must use another completely different, secret trick to protect their brains and survive without oxygen.