BARK TO LIFE; Boffins in bizarre experiments on deep-frozen dogs.Byline: By Cara Page DOGS have been brought back to life after being drained of blood and deep-frozen for up to three hours. The macabre-sounding experiments are part of a project to develop suspended animation sus·pend·ed animation n. A temporary interruption of the vital functions resembling death. techniques to save badly injured humans. Animal rights activists have condemned the tests as being straight out of a horror film. But the US scientists involved in the project say it is a 'very important area of research'. They are in talks with hospitals about starting trials on people. In the study at Pittsburgh University, dogs have their veins drained of blood and filled with an ice-cold salt solution. The technique puts them into a state of extreme hypothermia hypothermia Abnormally low body temperature, with slowing of physiological activity. It is artificially induced (usually with ice baths) for certain surgical procedures and cancer treatments. and they appear dead. They show no sign of breathing, heartbeat or brain activity but their tissues and vital organs are preserved The researchers revive them by returning the blood to their bodies, giving them oxygen and using electric shocks to restart their hearts. Some critics have said the tests are creating a race of zombie A computer that has been covertly taken over in order to perform some nefarious task. It is estimated that millions of PCs around the world have been compromised and, under the control of a third party, routinely transmit messages unbeknownst to the user. dogs. But research chief Dr Patrick Kochanek said: 'It's very scientific and those types of words are totally inappropriate.' He explained the technique could help buy time to transport people, such as critically wounded soldiers, to get proper medical help. At first, his team found dogs could not be brought back to life after more than two hours in suspended animation. But by adding glucose and more oxygen to the blood they pushed the limit to three hours. However, some dogs can suffer serious physical or behavioural problems. A spokeswoman for animal rights group PETA Quadrillion (10 to the 15th power). See space/time. , said they were totally against the work. She added: 'These experiments are indefensible nonsense and the results for humans will be negligible |
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