Urea nitrogen recycling via gut symbionts increases in hibernators over the winter fast
M. D. Regan, E. Chiang, Y. Liu, M. Tonelli, K. M. Verdoorn, S. R. Gugel, G. Suen, H. V. Carey, F. M. Assadi-Porter
This study shows that hibernating ground squirrels recycle urea nitrogen through their gut microbiome to maintain protein balance during winter fasting.
bioRxiv · Feb 24, 2021 · PreprintPhysiology