Hibernation, Puberty and Chronic Kidney Disease in Troglodytes from Spain half a million years ago Antonis Bartsiokas Corresp., 1 , Juan Luis Arsuaga 2 1 Department of History & Ethnology, Democritus University of Thrace, Komotini, Greece 2 Departmento de Paleontología, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain Corresponding Author: Antonis Bartsiokas Email address:
[email protected] Both animal hibernation (heterothermy) and human renal osteodystrophy are characterized by high levels of serum parathyroid hormone.To test the hypothesis of hibernation in an extinct human species, we examined the hominin skeletal collection from Sima de los Huesos, Cave Mayor, Atapuerca, Spain, for evidence of hyperparathyroidism.We studied the morphology of the fossilized bonesby using macrophotography, microscopy, histology and CT scanning.We found trabecular tunneling and osteitis fibrosa, subperiosteal resorption,‘rotten fence post’ signs,brown tumours, subperiosteal new bone, chondrocalcinosis, rachitic osteoplaques and empty gaps between them, craniotabes, and beading in ribs mostly in the adolescent population of these hominins. Since many of the above lesions are pathognomonic, these extinct hominins suffered annually from renal rickets, secondary hyperparathyroidism, and renal osteodystrophy associated with Chronic Kidney Disease -Mineral and Bone Disorder(CKD- MBD). We suggest these diseases were caused by non-tolerated hibernation in dark cavernous hibernacula.This is evidenced by the rachitic osteoplaques and the gaps between