Rump rat without irritation

2008/03/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Biokimika
• Zoologia

The African nude mole mouse (Heterocephalus glaber) is a truly curious animal: it is a cold blood mammal, which has its body at the same temperature as the environment (it is not capable of producing heat), with a very high life expectancy of about 25 years, lives in colonies of more than 300 specimens and has a hierarchical social organization, such as bees or termites. Now, researchers from Chicago Thomas Park and Gary Lewin from Germany have found another particularity of the animal: don't feel all kinds of pain.

It is capable of feeling the pain caused mechanically -- when irons or prick -- but not the pain of chemical origin. For example, capsaicin, a substance that damages the pepper, does not cause a burning sensation when you come into contact with the skin. Most animals, on the other hand, feel pain in such a situation. It also does not hurt to contact the acids.

Researchers have found that this unique molar contains noizeptors - receptors that perceive the feeling of pain - that react with capsaicin and send signs of pain. But the animal does not feel pain. Apparently, these signs are "lost" in the way or provoke a feeling that is not painful.