A few years ago, American researchers conducted a unique experiment with the brain of a recently slaughtered large animal. The results of this experiment deserve attention.
A total of 32 pig brains were used as "subjects," taken from animals slaughtered at a local abattoir. The animals were killed for meat using traditional methods, without any special measures at this stage.
The Associated Press, which reported on this experiment, did not specify whether the researchers worked with all 32 brains simultaneously or sequentially. We assume they obtained them from the abattoir one at a time, as this is more economical, allowing one device to be used for all.
Four hours after the pig's death, its brain was placed in the chamber of a special apparatus, and the blood vessels were connected to a system that pumped a specially designed blood substitute through the brain.
After six hours, researchers found that individual brain cells retained their structure, while cells from untreated brains had significantly degraded. When neurons were extracted from the treated brain and electrically stimulated, the cells responded, demonstrating their viability.
Furthermore, it was found that the blood vessels in the treated brain reacted to a drug that promotes vasodilation.
Analysis of the blood substitute showed that brain cells absorbed glucose and oxygen, as well as produced carbon dioxide, indicating their functioning.
It is important to note that electrical activity characteristic of a living brain was not observed in this case. Medically, the brain was considered dead, as only individual cells survived after four hours without oxygen and nourishment.
Nevertheless, this certainly indicates the need for a serious adjustment of our understanding of the timelines for neuron death in a deceased organism.
