The spook within

Their work has centered on osteocalcin, a hormone produced by some of the same cells that make up bone. His and others’ earlier research has suggested that osteocalcin helps regulate diverse functions such as metabolism, muscle function during exercise, and fertility.

In this sense, osteocalcin works like a lot like other hormones produced by the glands and organs that make up our endocrine system. Because of this, Karsenty and his team have argued that the skeleton should be considered an endocrine organ. That line of thinking led Karsenty’s team to theorize that our skeletons could have evolved to help us better respond to stress, too, since that’s another pivotal function of the endocrine system. And if that’s the case, then osteocalcin should play a leading role there as well.

So they exposed mice to predator urine and immediately saw osteocalcin in the mice’s blood.

The original article is from Gizmodo. If anyone else is curious!

4 comments

Ayyyyy Picard Maneuver! I hope your break was of your own choice and that you're doing well
- Hey! It was and I am. Glad to be back <3
I'm more afraid of live hormones than of dead spooky scary skeletons so I guess it all worked out in the end.
Their work has centered on osteocalcin, a hormone produced by some of the same cells that make up bone. His and others’ earlier research has suggested that osteocalcin helps regulate diverse functions such as metabolism, muscle function during exercise, and fertility.
In this sense, osteocalcin works like a lot like other hormones produced by the glands and organs that make up our endocrine system. Because of this, Karsenty and his team have argued that the skeleton should be considered an endocrine organ. That line of thinking led Karsenty’s team to theorize that our skeletons could have evolved to help us better respond to stress, too, since that’s another pivotal function of the endocrine system. And if that’s the case, then osteocalcin should play a leading role there as well.
So they exposed mice to predator urine and immediately saw osteocalcin in the mice’s blood.
The original article is from Gizmodo. If anyone else is curious!