Open AccessThe hypoxia adaptation of small mammals to plateau and underground burrow conditions
Author(s) -
Li Mengke,
Pan Dan,
Sun Hong,
Zhang Lei,
Cheng Han,
Shao Tian,
Wang Zhenlong
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
animal models and experimental medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2576-2095
DOI - 10.1002/ame2.12183
Subject(s) - hypoxia (environmental) , burrow , biology , adaptation (eye) , oxygen , hypoxia inducible factors , ecology , erythropoietin , phenotype , endocrinology , gene , chemistry , neuroscience , genetics , organic chemistry
Oxygen is one of the important substances for the survival of most life systems on the earth, and plateau and underground burrow systems are two typical hypoxic environments. Small mammals living in hypoxic environments have evolved different adaptation strategies, which include increased oxygen delivery, metabolic regulation of physiological responses and other physiological responses that change tissue oxygen utilization. Multi‐omics predictions have also shown that these animals have evolved different adaptations to extreme environments. In particular, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and erythropoietin (EPO), which have specific functions in the control of O 2 delivery, have evolved adaptively in small mammals in hypoxic environments. Naked mole‐rats and blind mole‐rats are typical hypoxic model animals as they have some resistance to cancer. This review primarily summarizes the main living environment of hypoxia tolerant small mammals, as well as the changes of phenotype, physiochemical characteristics and gene expression mode of their long‐term living in hypoxia environment.