Photo credit: www.popsci.com
Pythons, among the myriad of snake species, are particularly renowned for their remarkable feeding habits, enabling them to consume prey whole. Their diet can include surprisingly large animals such as deer, cattle, and even alligators. However, unlike many animals that have more regular feeding schedules, pythons can go extended periods without meals. Recent research has unveiled intriguing insights into how this unique diet impacts their cardiovascular health. When they do eat, pythons experience significant physiological changes to accommodate the task of ingesting such sizeable meals.
A recent study released on August 19 in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) revealed that the hearts of pythons actually become less rigid during the active process of consuming food. This adaptability might offer clues for medical advances relating to human heart diseases.
Feasting and Fasting
In their natural habitats, pythons often encounter food shortages that force them to go months without eating. When they do locate food, they tend to consume substantial meals that can be comparable to their own body weight.
[Related: Scientists suggest increasing python consumption.]
“To thrive in their environments, pythons have developed the ability to endure prolonged periods of fasting without adverse effects, coupled with the capability to consume enormous meals sporadically,” noted Leslie Leinwand, a co-author of the study and biologist at the University of Colorado. “An evolutionary adaptation to their lifestyle involves a significant size increase in their organs within the first week after a meal, which then revert to a slightly larger state post-fasting.”
To better understand the implications of their feeding behaviors on their physiology, Leinwand and her team analyzed the hearts of ball pythons (Python regius). One group of snakes was observed after a 28-day fasting period, while another had eaten a meal of whole rats weighing approximately a quarter of their body mass.
A ball python from Leinwand’s laboratory. CREDIT: Yuxiao Tan.
The results indicated that the fed pythons exhibited a body mass increase of nearly 25 percent following meals, although the structural integrity of their hearts remained largely unchanged. The cardiac myofibrils—vital components in heart muscle cells responsible for contraction—demonstrated enhanced force generation during feeding. Additionally, myofibrils in the fed group displayed slower relaxation and reduced tension compared to those in the fasting group. Furthermore, the chromatin within the heart muscle cells of the fed pythons was notably less condensed, suggesting a more adaptive response to the demands of eating.
Notably, the cardiac ventricle tissues, which facilitate blood circulation, were more elastic in the fed pythons, contrasting with their fasting counterparts. The study found that only 24 hours after a substantial meal, the rigidity of the python’s heart significantly decreased.
[Related: The importance of social connections for rattlesnakes.]
Future Applications for ‘Stiff’ Hearts
Stiffness in the heart poses dangers, as it might impede proper blood flow. In humans, cardiac amyloidosis or “stiff heart syndrome” can disrupt normal heart rhythms and signals. Conversely, pythons appear to evade the complications associated with heart stiffness by allowing their hearts to remain more flexible, enabling them to generate the force necessary for consuming large prey.
“This organ size increase can be classified as physiological—indicating it’s a sign of health,” stated Leinwand. “In human athletics, a similar increase in heart size is often seen in highly conditioned individuals.”
Nonetheless, Leinwand asserts that further studies are essential to explore how these findings could potentially enhance treatment options for human cardiac conditions.
“If we can harness the biological mechanisms found in pythons that enable healthy cardiac adaptations, this could hold significant implications for individuals suffering from heart disease,” added Leinwand. “There is a wealth of captivating biology in nature that may inform our understanding and treatment of various health issues.”
Source
www.popsci.com