Physiology

 

The vagal nerves serve as a signal switchboard between the brain and the internal organs, transmitting information from the digestive tract to the brain, among other functions. Areas in the brain stem can be activated through artificial stimulation (yellow, red).

A complex network of electrical and chemical signals ensures that the body and brain work in unison on matters of nutrition. Marc Tittgemeyer and his team at the Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research in Cologne are exploring the implications of these intricate 'agreements.' more

Brain logistics

Teams from MPI Institutes in Dresden, Dortmund, Frankfurt am Main and Göttingen have joined forces to gain the first evidence of a protein complex responsible for the transport of messenger RNA in neurons more

Three coloured curves illustrate fluctuations in glucose metabolism, in the background a light microscope image of bacterial cells

Measurements in single living bacterial cells reveal large periodic fluctuations of bacterial metabolism more

Gutless worm

Researchers discover that many animals have the genes to make these plant sterols more

Nobel Prize 2022 for Svante Pääbo

The director of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig is honoured for his pioneering work in the field of palaeogenetics, of which he is considered the founder more

Characterized drugs show unexpected effects

Known and yet unexpected: many active substances influence the cholesterol homeostasis and thereby possibly a SARS-CoV-2 infection more

Stimulating the immune system to fight cancer

Max Planck scientists from Dortmund find immunoregulatory substances with newly developed test system more

Mice under stress

Social status influences behavior of stressed mice in a sex-specific way more

shrew

The tiny mammals reduce the size of their organs in the winter and can even decrease and rebuild bones more

Gut bacteria affect ageing

The life expectancy of older fish is extended if their gut is colonized with the microorganisms of younger fish. more

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Gutless worm

Researchers discover that many animals have the genes to make these plant sterols more

Nobel Prize 2022 for Svante Pääbo

The director of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig is honoured for his pioneering work in the field of palaeogenetics, of which he is considered the founder more

Characterized drugs show unexpected effects

Known and yet unexpected: many active substances influence the cholesterol homeostasis and thereby possibly a SARS-CoV-2 infection more

Stimulating the immune system to fight cancer

Max Planck scientists from Dortmund find immunoregulatory substances with newly developed test system more

The vagal nerves serve as a signal switchboard between the brain and the internal organs, transmitting information from the digestive tract to the brain, among other functions. Areas in the brain stem can be activated through artificial stimulation (yellow, red).

A complex network of electrical and chemical signals ensures that the body and brain work in unison on matters of nutrition. Marc Tittgemeyer and his team at the Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research in Cologne are exploring the implications of these intricate 'agreements.' more

shrew

The tiny mammals reduce the size of their organs in the winter and can even decrease and rebuild bones more

Gut bacteria affect ageing

The life expectancy of older fish is extended if their gut is colonized with the microorganisms of younger fish. more

Oestrogen receptor causes weight loss in male mice

The receptor increases energy consumption by muscle cells and prompts weight loss more

In mice, dietary restrictions can lead to changes in lipid metabolism, thus increasing the animals' lifespans more

Sphingosine inhibits the enzyme GBA2, thereby regulating the degradation of lipid-sugar compounds in cells more

Virtual liver model could reduce number of animal experiments

Researchers establish a model that simulates biliary fluid dynamics in the liver and predicts drug-induced liver injuries more

Genome-based diets maximise growth, fecundity, and lifespan

A new developed diet for fruit flies increases growth and fecundity without shortening life-span more

A sweet vaccine against pneumonia

A triple sugar induces an immune response against Streptococcus pneumoniae more

Oxytocin enhances social affiliation in chimpanzee groups

In violent intergroup conflicts between chimpanzee groups the hormone oxytocin enhances the social affiliation among members of the same group more

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