A Scientific Discovery with Potential Medical Applications
mammals, including humans, can breathe through their anuses. This research, published in 2021, earned the team the Ig Nobel Prize in physiology, an award that recognizes unusual and humorous scientific achievements.
The research was inspired by the unusual breathing method of the loach, a freshwater fish that can breathe through its intestines. The team wondered if mammals might also be able to utilize intestinal respiration, and their experiments confirmed this possibility.
In their experiments, the researchers injected oxygen into the anuses of mice in low-oxygen conditions. The mice showed signs of recovery from respiratory failure and a significant increase in survival rate, demonstrating that mammals can absorb oxygen through their intestines.
The team also developed a potential method for humans called "enteral ventilation via anus (EVA)," which involves injecting oxygen or oxygen-rich liquid into the rectum through the anus. This method increased blood oxygen levels in mice and pigs in low-oxygen environments.
This research holds promise for the future of respiratory failure treatment. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the demand for ventilators and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) increased significantly. Intestinal breathing could offer a new and potentially life-saving treatment option for patients with severe respiratory failure.
The Ig Nobel Prize, with its focus on humor and thought-provoking research, perfectly aligns with the team's hope that their discovery will spark further interest and research in this field. This research has the potential to significantly impact the future of respiratory medicine and improve the lives of patients suffering from respiratory failure.