Adaptation of mammals to hypoxia

Fang Li, Zhenglei Qiao, Qijiao Duan, Eviatar Nevo

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

Abstract

Oxygen plays a pivotal role in the metabolism and activities of mammals. However, oxygen is restricted in some environments—subterranean burrow systems or habitats at high altitude or deep in the ocean—and this could exert hypoxic stresses such as oxidative damage on organisms living in these environments. In order to cope with these stresses, organisms have evolved specific strategies to adapt to hypoxia, including changes in physiology, gene expression regulation, and genetic mutations. Here, we review how mammals have adapted to the three high-altitude plateaus of the world, the limited oxygen dissolved in deep water habitats, and underground tunnels, with the aim of better understanding the adaptation of mammals to hypoxia.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)311-318
Number of pages8
JournalAnimal Models and Experimental Medicine
Volume4
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2021

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Doctoral Research Fund of Mudanjiang Teachers College, Grant/Award Number: No.1002319042. The filing project of Heilongjiang Education Department, Grant/Award Number: 1354MSYTD024. Ancell‐Teicher Research Foundation for Genetic and Molecular Evolution.

Funding Information:
Doctoral Research Fund of Mudanjiang Teachers College, Grant/Award Number: No.1002319042. The filing project of Heilongjiang Education Department, Grant/Award Number: 1354MSYTD024. Ancell-Teicher Research Foundation for Genetic and Molecular Evolution. We thank the Doctoral Research Fund of Mudanjiang Teachers College (No.1002319042), and Ancell-Teicher Research Foundation for Genetic and Molecular Evolution for its constant financial support for supporting Spalax research Program.

Funding Information:
We thank the Doctoral Research Fund of Mudanjiang Teachers College (No.1002319042), and Ancell‐Teicher Research Foundation for Genetic and Molecular Evolution for its constant financial support for supporting research Program. Spalax

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 The Authors. Animal Models and Experimental Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of The Chinese Association for Laboratory Animal Sciences.

Keywords

  • hemoglobin
  • high-altitude
  • hypoxia
  • marine mammals
  • subterranean mammals

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Veterinary (miscellaneous)
  • Medicine (miscellaneous)
  • Medical Laboratory Technology

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