Leap frogging in muscle research

Can a frog that is known to bury itself in mud for months on end hold the key to avoiding muscle wastage in people with broken bones?

That is the question being posed by University of Queensland researcher Dr Nick Hudson who was recently awarded his PhD into how the green striped burrowing frog (Cyclorana alboguttata) can lay dormant for long stretches without any effect on its muscles.

Muscle wasting is one of the biggest problems for people who experience long-term physical inactivity and affects not only those with broken bones but also the bed ridden and even astronauts.

Mr Hudson said his research into the frogs, which are commonly found across eastern Australia, saw them enter a state of inactivity – called aestivation – for up to nine months.

He said aestivation was characterised by metabolic depression where things like heart rate, and breathing slows down.

“It’s a bit like hibernation, which bears go through in winter,” he said.

“Despite being in such a state for long periods there was no sign of muscle wastage or bone deterioration like we would expect.

“”It seems they enter a state of reduced metabolic rate that allows them to deal with the suspension.”

Mr Hudson, who was also the Australian 800m champion in 2002, said the implications from his research could have applications in human research.

“The structure of frog muscles are similar to ours,” he said.

“As such someone might be able to take my research and carry it over into human research.

“Who knows but in 50 years time humans might be able to use the technique of this frog to stop muscle wastage.”

Originally doing his undergraduate work at St Andrews University in Scotland, Mr Hudson came out to Australia for his PhD studies and is now a research assistant at UQ working on changes in the salt glands of crocodiles.

Media: For more information contact Dr Nick Hudson (telephone 3365
1390) or Andrew Dunne at UQ Communications (telephone 07 3365 2802).