I just read this (be it rather old) article about how Burmese pythons can ingest a prey 1.6 times their size and up their metabolism 40 times while increasing their heart's size within 2 days in order to withstand the higher metabolism. It appears that higher levels of myristic, palmitic and palmitoleic acid are seen in the python's blood, even though no fatty buildup takes place in the heart or vessels.
This could provide a potential treatment of heart failure if successful in humans.
The study concludes that future attempts in mice will take place, but I could not find any follow up, nor did I find anything similar here on the forum.
Anyone care to jump in?
Link:
http://www.sciencema...nt/334/6055/528