2024-01-12 02:04:52
Fruit bats, these sweet-toothed creatures of the night sky, can eat twice their body weight in luscious mangoes, bananas and figs every day without developing diabetes like humans do. HH? A recent study published in the journal Nature Communications found a possible answer: Genetic adaptations in these flying mammals help them convert sweet treats into energy, rather than a health concern.
The research team compared fruit bats with insect-eating big brown bats and found that these fruit-eating bats have uniquely evolved the composition of their pancreas and kidneys. The pancreas has more cells that produce insulin and regulate blood sugar, while the kidneys have more cells to filter scarce salts and electrolytes. These genetic changes allow fruit bats to efficiently process their high-sugar diet.
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Not only that, the researchers also found that the regulatory DNA that controls the expression of these genes is significantly different between the two bat species. In fruit bats, this regulatory DNA helps them cope with wild swings in blood sugar, while big brown bats are better at processing protein and conserving water.
The pancreas has more cells that produce insulin and regulate blood sugar
This study reveals how bats’ diet evolved over time from insect-eating to fruit-eating. Scientists analyzed bat kidney cells through single-cell RNA and ATAC and found that different species of bats have differences in cell types and functions in kidney function, which reflects their adaptation to food sources. By comparing bat kidney cell data with human data, the study helps us understand how these physiological changes affected bat evolution and provides potential applications for future medical research. Advertisement (Please continue reading this article)
This research is not only important for understanding how fruit bats stay healthy on a sugar-rich diet, it may also have implications for the treatment of diabetes in humans. The research team aims to learn from fruit bats to develop better insulin or blood sugar sensing therapies for humans. (Photo/”Nature Communications”)
Fruit bats may look like little sweet tooths in the sky, but their amazing physiology is not only a natural cure for diabetes, but may also bring new health insights to humans. As study co-author Nadav Ahituv said: “Fruit bats are like superheroes to us, each possessing amazing superpowers, whether it’s echolocation, flight, non-clotting blood sucking or eating. Fruit does not cause diabetes.” The sweet life of fruit bats may be the key to humanity’s next health secret.
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First image source: Getty Images cc By4.0
Image Source:Nature Communicationscc By4.0
Reference papers:
1.Integrative single-cell characterization of a frugivorous and an insectivorous bat kidney and pancreas.Nature Communications
Further reading:
1.Professional night hunter?How did this bat become a master of “sneaking”?
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