Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33750832›Full record

ArticleScientific reports2021

Amplification of potential thermogenetic mechanisms in cetacean brains compared to artiodactyl brains.

Paul R Manger, Nina Patzke, Muhammad A Spocter, Adhil Bhagwandin, Karl Æ Karlsson, Mads F Bertelsen, Abdulaziz N Alagaili, Nigel C Bennett, Osama B Mohammed, Suzana Herculano-Houzel and 2 more

Open access · goldAbstract readComparative Study
In one paragraph

Article in Scientific reports, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
2.0field-weighted citation impact, top 14% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed, 16 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Cellular Composition of the Brain of a Northern Minke Whale.The Journal of comparative neurology · 2025
    Article
  2. Gold Nanorod-Embedded PDMS Micro-Pillar Array for Localized Photothermal Stimulation.Journal of microelectromechanical systems : a joint IEEE and ASME publication on microstructures, microactuators, microsensors, and microsystems · 2024
    Article
  3. From fossils to mind.Communications biology · 2023
    Review
  4. Article
  5. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors at 7 institutions in 7 countries.

Paul R MangerSchool of Anatomical Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. Paul.Manger@wits.ac.za.
Nina PatzkeSchool of Anatomical Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Muhammad A SpocterSchool of Anatomical Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Adhil BhagwandinSchool of Anatomical Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Karl Æ KarlssonBiomedical Engineering, Reykjavik University, Reykjavik, Iceland.
Mads F BertelsenCentre for Zoo and Wild Animal Health, Copenhagen Zoo, Frederiksberg, Denmark.
Abdulaziz N AlagailiKSU Mammals Research Chair, Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Nigel C BennettKSU Mammals Research Chair, Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Osama B MohammedKSU Mammals Research Chair, Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Suzana Herculano-HouzelDepartment of Psychology, Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
Patrick R HofNash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
Kjell FuxeDepartment of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
University of the Witwatersrand · ZAKing Saud University · SACopenhagen Zoo · DKIcahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai · USKarolinska Institutet · SEReykjavík University · ISVanderbilt University · US

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

To elucidate factors underlying the evolution of large brains in cetaceans, we examined 16 brains from 14 cetartiodactyl species, with immunohistochemical techniques, for evidence of non-shivering thermogenesis. We show that, in comparison to the 11 artiodactyl brains studied (from 11 species), the 5 cetacean brains (from 3 species), exhibit an expanded expression of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1, UCPs being mitochondrial inner membrane proteins that dissipate the proton gradient to generate heat) in cortical neurons, immunolocalization of UCP4 within a substantial proportion of glia throughout the brain, and an increased density of noradrenergic axonal boutons (noradrenaline functioning to control concentrations of and activate UCPs). Thus, cetacean brains studied possess multiple characteristics indicative of intensified thermogenetic functionality that can be related to their current and historical obligatory aquatic niche. These findings necessitate reassessment of our concepts regarding the reasons for large brain evolution and associated functional capacities in cetaceans.

Indexed as

AnimalsArtiodactylaBrainCetaceaNeuronsSpecies SpecificityThermogenesisUncoupling Protein 1Uncoupling Protein 1

Identifiers

PMID33750832
PMCPMC7970898
OpenAlexW3133719715

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.