Mammals can breathe through their intestines?
May 14, 2021 12:06 PM Subscribe
Mammals can breathe through their intestines? We all know that some creatures have to poop through their mouths. But now researchers have shown that you can also flood a mouse's colon with oxygen-saturated perfluorocarbon and have them breathe through their large intestine. Which is presumably less stressful than flooding your lungs with it.
But Takebe and colleagues wanted to ditch the onerous—and dangerous—process of intestinal scrubbing.
Sure, that could be a sentence.
posted by The Tensor at 12:13 PM on May 14, 2021 [8 favorites]
Sure, that could be a sentence.
posted by The Tensor at 12:13 PM on May 14, 2021 [8 favorites]
Yeah, there are some other real corkers as well, but:
On a good day, things exit through the anus.
That's one hell of an opening sentence.
posted by Greg_Ace at 12:16 PM on May 14, 2021 [22 favorites]
On a good day, things exit through the anus.
That's one hell of an opening sentence.
posted by Greg_Ace at 12:16 PM on May 14, 2021 [22 favorites]
“In five years, the penis will be obsolete,” said the salesman.
posted by The Tensor at 12:18 PM on May 14, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by The Tensor at 12:18 PM on May 14, 2021 [2 favorites]
That's one hell of an opening sentence.
ice_cube_driving.jpg
posted by GuyZero at 12:20 PM on May 14, 2021 [2 favorites]
ice_cube_driving.jpg
posted by GuyZero at 12:20 PM on May 14, 2021 [2 favorites]
I have passed on adding links to videos of animals breathing while submerged in liquid because while it's kind of cool and I assume the animals were not permanently harmed, it's probably upsetting for some people. There's some ancient video here.
As made famous in the movie The Abyss.
posted by alex_skazat at 12:21 PM on May 14, 2021 [7 favorites]
As made famous in the movie The Abyss.
posted by alex_skazat at 12:21 PM on May 14, 2021 [7 favorites]
MetaFilter: On a good day, things exit through the anus.
posted by rogerroger at 12:34 PM on May 14, 2021 [11 favorites]
posted by rogerroger at 12:34 PM on May 14, 2021 [11 favorites]
The problem with The Abyss is that there was still air in the helmet. A bubble at the top. I would think that that would be a problem. Anyone have any idea?
posted by Splunge at 12:38 PM on May 14, 2021
posted by Splunge at 12:38 PM on May 14, 2021
I mean, I know plenty of people who talk out their ass, this seems like the logical next step.
posted by stevis23 at 12:48 PM on May 14, 2021 [6 favorites]
posted by stevis23 at 12:48 PM on May 14, 2021 [6 favorites]
Rectum? Damn near resuscitated 'em!
posted by GenjiandProust at 1:13 PM on May 14, 2021 [12 favorites]
posted by GenjiandProust at 1:13 PM on May 14, 2021 [12 favorites]
Nerdthought: Maybe those obviously-too-small breathing devices the Jedi used in The Phantom Menace were just passive mouthguards that reminded them not to breathe, and they were actually getting oxygen from super-miniaturized anal-breathing rigs they wore every day under their robes. Uh, for emergencies.
posted by The Tensor at 1:20 PM on May 14, 2021 [16 favorites]
posted by The Tensor at 1:20 PM on May 14, 2021 [16 favorites]
As made famous in the movie The Abyss.
I'm betting Ed Harris is happy this study came out 30+ years after the movie.
posted by nathan_teske at 1:30 PM on May 14, 2021 [5 favorites]
I'm betting Ed Harris is happy this study came out 30+ years after the movie.
posted by nathan_teske at 1:30 PM on May 14, 2021 [5 favorites]
Pfft. Breathing through your large intestine is strictly amateur hour. My large intestine can grunt like a moose, roar like a bear, and bugle like an elk all at the same time (in three part harmony).
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 1:41 PM on May 14, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 1:41 PM on May 14, 2021 [2 favorites]
That must be a popular party trick.
posted by Greg_Ace at 1:48 PM on May 14, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by Greg_Ace at 1:48 PM on May 14, 2021 [1 favorite]
Liquid breathing figures prominently in the methodology of the scientific paper with one of the best titles ever, Hydraulic Compression of Mice to 166 Atmospheres.
posted by TedW at 1:53 PM on May 14, 2021 [9 favorites]
posted by TedW at 1:53 PM on May 14, 2021 [9 favorites]
Liquid breathing figures prominently in the methodology of the scientific paper with one of the best titles ever, Hydraulic Compression of Mice to 166 Atmospheres.
The abstract gives the paper a real mad science vibe. Extremely weird.
posted by GuyZero at 1:55 PM on May 14, 2021 [2 favorites]
The abstract gives the paper a real mad science vibe. Extremely weird.
posted by GuyZero at 1:55 PM on May 14, 2021 [2 favorites]
Maybe those obviously-too-small breathing devices the Jedi used in The Phantom Menace were just passive mouthguards that reminded them not to breathe,
“Padawan, now you must learn to breathe through your rectum. Take this kazoo.”
posted by mhoye at 1:55 PM on May 14, 2021 [10 favorites]
“Padawan, now you must learn to breathe through your rectum. Take this kazoo.”
posted by mhoye at 1:55 PM on May 14, 2021 [10 favorites]
Enema and Scuba enthusiasts have had little in common to talk about...Until today.
posted by Fupped Duck at 2:18 PM on May 14, 2021 [3 favorites]
posted by Fupped Duck at 2:18 PM on May 14, 2021 [3 favorites]
Liquid breathing? Are you sure they aren't blowing smoke up our ass?
posted by evidenceofabsence at 2:20 PM on May 14, 2021 [3 favorites]
posted by evidenceofabsence at 2:20 PM on May 14, 2021 [3 favorites]
Are you sure they aren't blowing smoke up our ass?
The paper discusses that and apparently the liquid works better.
posted by GuyZero at 2:25 PM on May 14, 2021 [8 favorites]
The paper discusses that and apparently the liquid works better.
posted by GuyZero at 2:25 PM on May 14, 2021 [8 favorites]
“Padawan, now you must learn to breathe through your rectum. Take this in the kazoo.”
FTFY
posted by The Tensor at 2:25 PM on May 14, 2021 [8 favorites]
FTFY
posted by The Tensor at 2:25 PM on May 14, 2021 [8 favorites]
Thank you for this post. This changes my weekend plans considerably
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 2:37 PM on May 14, 2021 [16 favorites]
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 2:37 PM on May 14, 2021 [16 favorites]
I’m rereading The Sirens of Titan and Kurt Vonnegut described in detail this form of oxygen respiration for his Mars dwellers. In 1959. Id love to see some of the white papers and articles he must have come across back then.
posted by annathea at 2:40 PM on May 14, 2021
posted by annathea at 2:40 PM on May 14, 2021
BRB gotta go register Pett-O-Main as a trademark for butt-scuba gear.
posted by The Tensor at 2:44 PM on May 14, 2021 [9 favorites]
posted by The Tensor at 2:44 PM on May 14, 2021 [9 favorites]
The Boof of Life
posted by evidenceofabsence at 2:56 PM on May 14, 2021 [6 favorites]
posted by evidenceofabsence at 2:56 PM on May 14, 2021 [6 favorites]
The intestine is designed for diffusion of all sorts of things into the blood supply so I'm not surprised that if you put oxygen rich liquid next to the intestinal wall oxygen can diffuse on through. The reason we need lungs is because we only live in 21kPa of oxygen and we need surface area. If you can get a massive partial pressures of oxygen into a liquid to make it equivalent then yeah, we probably can breathe through our digestive system.
posted by Your Childhood Pet Rock at 3:13 PM on May 14, 2021 [11 favorites]
posted by Your Childhood Pet Rock at 3:13 PM on May 14, 2021 [11 favorites]
Meat is extremely bad for the digestive system,’ said Magrat. ‘If you could see inside your colon you’d be horrified.'posted by mikelieman at 3:19 PM on May 14, 2021 [2 favorites]
‘I think I would,’ muttered Hwel.
~~ Terry Pratchett -- Weird Sisters
more like Breatharsians.
posted by ZaphodB at 3:20 PM on May 14, 2021 [7 favorites]
posted by ZaphodB at 3:20 PM on May 14, 2021 [7 favorites]
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tobacco_smoke_enema
This new treatment reminded me of an old timey medical practice.
posted by starfishprime at 3:36 PM on May 14, 2021 [2 favorites]
This new treatment reminded me of an old timey medical practice.
posted by starfishprime at 3:36 PM on May 14, 2021 [2 favorites]
You guys are the absolute best
posted by Greg_Ace at 3:45 PM on May 14, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by Greg_Ace at 3:45 PM on May 14, 2021 [1 favorite]
Just for you, Greg_Ace, here are some amusingly crass Bulwer-Lytton entries for next year:
"On a dark and stormy night, things exited through the anus."
"On a clear day, you can see things exit through the anus forever."
A bonus Klingon reference: "It is a good day to exit through the anus."
Next up: anal aerobics classes.
posted by zaixfeep at 4:27 PM on May 14, 2021 [3 favorites]
"On a dark and stormy night, things exited through the anus."
"On a clear day, you can see things exit through the anus forever."
A bonus Klingon reference: "It is a good day to exit through the anus."
Next up: anal aerobics classes.
posted by zaixfeep at 4:27 PM on May 14, 2021 [3 favorites]
Gives "breathe from the diaphram" a whole new meaning...
posted by Greg_Ace at 4:34 PM on May 14, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by Greg_Ace at 4:34 PM on May 14, 2021 [1 favorite]
Ice-hard, is my guess.
posted by Greg_Ace at 5:23 PM on May 14, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by Greg_Ace at 5:23 PM on May 14, 2021 [1 favorite]
Isn't this how they survived the high-G maneuvers in The Forever War?
posted by wenestvedt at 8:40 PM on May 14, 2021
posted by wenestvedt at 8:40 PM on May 14, 2021
On a good day, things exit through the anus.
Depending on your kinks, the opposite is true.
posted by Panjandrum at 8:58 PM on May 14, 2021 [2 favorites]
Depending on your kinks, the opposite is true.
posted by Panjandrum at 8:58 PM on May 14, 2021 [2 favorites]
Metafilter: If you can get a massive partial pressures of oxygen into a liquid to make it equivalent then yeah
posted by medusa at 9:27 PM on May 14, 2021
posted by medusa at 9:27 PM on May 14, 2021
Are these lab animals tranquilized at least?
Yes, science but.
posted by nantucket at 9:38 PM on May 14, 2021 [1 favorite]
Yes, science but.
posted by nantucket at 9:38 PM on May 14, 2021 [1 favorite]
I don't feel too concerned about test protocols until primates or a predator species is involved.
You know, there's nothing wrong with acquiring some empathy. The certification is free and it lasts a lifetime.
posted by Dokterrock at 10:59 PM on May 14, 2021 [7 favorites]
You know, there's nothing wrong with acquiring some empathy. The certification is free and it lasts a lifetime.
posted by Dokterrock at 10:59 PM on May 14, 2021 [7 favorites]
My large intestine can grunt like a moose, roar like a bear, and bugle like an elk all at the same time (in three part harmony).
posted by zamboni at 5:12 AM on May 15, 2021
ORCHESTRA: Bloodnok themeposted by zamboni at 5:12 AM on May 15, 2021
I don't feel too concerned about test protocols until primates or a predator species is involved.
I mean, rats are one of the most common testing animals and they can form social bonds and come when called, you probably should be concerned about them. I'm sorry if you thought the above comment was unkind, but that wasn't a very empathetic thing to say. It's cruel to cause unnecessary pain or distress, even to "dumb" prey animals.
posted by stillnocturnal at 8:03 AM on May 15, 2021 [1 favorite]
I mean, rats are one of the most common testing animals and they can form social bonds and come when called, you probably should be concerned about them. I'm sorry if you thought the above comment was unkind, but that wasn't a very empathetic thing to say. It's cruel to cause unnecessary pain or distress, even to "dumb" prey animals.
posted by stillnocturnal at 8:03 AM on May 15, 2021 [1 favorite]
We were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the things began to exit through the anus.
(jokes aside, this is a cool post; thanks for posting it, GuyZero)
posted by Spathe Cadet at 8:49 AM on May 15, 2021 [1 favorite]
(jokes aside, this is a cool post; thanks for posting it, GuyZero)
posted by Spathe Cadet at 8:49 AM on May 15, 2021 [1 favorite]
Oh, I do that too! ...Wait, what are you insinuating?
posted by Greg_Ace at 11:32 AM on May 15, 2021 [4 favorites]
posted by Greg_Ace at 11:32 AM on May 15, 2021 [4 favorites]
30+ years after the movie
And I'm still waiting for the sequel: Son of Abyss.
posted by kirkaracha at 2:08 PM on May 15, 2021 [1 favorite]
And I'm still waiting for the sequel: Son of Abyss.
posted by kirkaracha at 2:08 PM on May 15, 2021 [1 favorite]
My hot take upon first learning about this was that it would wreak havoc with the intestinal flora because oxygen is toxic for anaerobes. If you survived the procedure, how well would those bacteria recover? I guess if things are so dire that you need anal ventilation, then you might be willing to risk an extended bout of the runs?
posted by disentir at 3:09 PM on May 16, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by disentir at 3:09 PM on May 16, 2021 [1 favorite]
Certainly the article reads that the outcome was that the mice didn't die instantly but yeah, who knows how the next day was. It is perhaps the tequila shots and suicide wings of respiration alternatives.
posted by GuyZero at 3:53 PM on May 16, 2021
posted by GuyZero at 3:53 PM on May 16, 2021
Apparently, the researchers decided to name the method after another media property that involved breathing liquid:
A team of Tokyo Medical and Dental University researchers published a study on Friday showing that oxygen-carrying liquid, delivered through the anus, can be used as respiratory treatment on mice and pigs. The technique, which the study's author Takanori Takebe called the "EVA method," refers to "enteral ventilation via anus." However, the name is also inspired by the LCL liquid depicted in the Evangelion anime, which the Eva pilots breathe inside their mechs.posted by NoxAeternum at 11:43 AM on May 18, 2021 [1 favorite]
Extremely excited for these scientists to trigger the Second Impact.
posted by GuyZero at 1:40 PM on May 18, 2021
posted by GuyZero at 1:40 PM on May 18, 2021
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posted by GuyZero at 12:08 PM on May 14, 2021