Humans could breathe through their bottoms in the future like pigs, scientists claim

HUMANS could breathe through their bottoms in future — and that’s not a load of old guff. Tests found pigs and rodents can use intestines to pump oxygen through the rectum. If scaled for human use it could save millions from respiratory failure, as seen in the virus pandemic. Aquatic organisms practise “back-to-front breathing” — […]

HUMANS could breathe through their bottoms in future — and that’s not a load of old guff.

Tests found pigs and rodents can use intestines to pump oxygen through the rectum.

If scaled for human use it could save millions from respiratory failure, as seen in the virus pandemic.

Aquatic organisms practise “back-to-front breathing” — using their rear end instead of lungs or gills — to survive in places with low oxygen levels.

It has been hotly-debated if mammals can do so.

A Japanese team developed a gas ventilation system to administer oxygen through animals’ rectums and tested it on mice, rats and pigs.

Without the system, no mouse survived more than 11 minutes in very low oxygen conditions.

With ventilation 75 per cent of mice survived 50 minutes. The system required breaking the animals’ intestinal barrier and was not clinically feasible for humans.

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The discovery could save millions from respiratory failure if scaled to humans[/caption]

So the team created a liquid-based ventilator that could be safe for people.

Mice and pigs got more oxygen this way.

Dr Takanori Takebe said the strategy is effective in providing oxygen “that reaches circulation and alleviates respiratory failure symptoms”. He will test further.