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Barrett A, Holder K, Knowles S, LaDouceur EEB. Retrospective review of the pathology of American pikas. J Vet Diagn Invest 2024:10406387241256907. [PMID: 38804174 DOI: 10.1177/10406387241256907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
American pikas (Ochotona princeps) are small lagomorphs that live in mountainous talus areas of western North America. Studies on the histopathology of American pikas are limited. We summarize here the clinical histories, and gross and histologic findings of 12 American pikas, including 9 captive (wild-caught) and 3 wild animals. Death was often attributed to stress (transport, handling, anesthesia) with few-to-no premonitory clinical signs. Infection was the cause of death in 2 cases: 1 had bacterial pyogranulomatous dermatitis, cellulitis, and lymphadenitis with sepsis; the other case had oomycete-induced necrotizing colitis. Incidental parasitic infections included sarcocystosis, nematodosis (oxyurids), and ectoparasitism. Most animals with adequate nutritional status had periportal hepatic lipidosis; this finding was absent in all animals with adipose atrophy, and it is possible that periportal hepatic lipidosis is non-pathologic in American pikas. Three cases had myocardial necrosis that was considered the cause of death; the cause of necrosis was not determined, but it may have been caused by stress or vitamin E-selenium deficiency. Esophageal hyperkeratosis was noted in animals with a history of anorexia and negative energy balance; accumulation of esophageal keratin can result from lack of mucosal abrasion by ingesta. Several histologic findings that are likely normal in American pikas include splenic extramedullary hematopoiesis, thymic tissue in adults, and Clostridium sp. in the enteric lumen.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kali Holder
- Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Susan Knowles
- U.S. Geological Survey, National Wildlife Health Center, Madison, WI, USA
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Zhang J, Cui Y. Integrative analysis identifies potential ferroptosis-related genes of hypoxia adaptation in yak. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:1022972. [PMID: 36304416 PMCID: PMC9592977 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.1022972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
There are studies on the hypoxia adaptation in yak, but there are few studies on the regulation of ferroptosis by hypoxia. This study was the first time to explore ferroptosis-related genes about hypoxia in yak. In this study, the oviduct epithelial cells between yak and bovine are performed by integrative analysis for functions, regulating network and hub genes. The results showed 29 up-regulated ferroptosis genes and 67 down-regulated ferroptosis genes, and GO-KEGG analysis showed that up-regulated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were significantly enriched in ribosome pathway and oxidative phosphorylation pathway. Down-regulated DEGs were significantly enriched in longevity regulating pathway-mammal pathway. Mitophagy-Animal Pathway was a significant enrichment pathway for the up-regulated differentially expressed ferroptosis genes (DE-FRGs). HIF-1 signaling pathway is a significant pathway for the down-regulated DE-FRGs. By constructing DE-FRGs protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, 10 hub DE-FRGs (Jun, STAT3, SP1, HIF1A, Mapk1, Mapk3, Rela, Ulk1, CDKN1A, EPAS1) were obtained. The bta-mir-21-5p, bta-mir-10a and bta-mir-17-5p related to STAT3 were predicted. The results of this study indicated the important genes and pathways of the hypoxia in yak, and it was the first time to study ferroptosis genes and pathways related to the hypoxia adaptation by bulk-seq in yak. This study provided sufficient transcriptome datas for hypoxia adaptation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China,Technology and Research Center of Gansu Province for Embryonic Engineering of Bovine and Sheep & Goat, Lanzhou, China
| | - Yan Cui
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China,Technology and Research Center of Gansu Province for Embryonic Engineering of Bovine and Sheep & Goat, Lanzhou, China,*Correspondence: Yan Cui
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Sjodin BMF, Russello MA. Comparative genomics reveals putative evidence for high-elevation adaptation in the American pika ( Ochotona princeps). G3 GENES|GENOMES|GENETICS 2022; 12:6695220. [PMID: 36087005 PMCID: PMC9635661 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkac241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
High-elevation environments have lower atmospheric oxygen content, reduced temperatures, and higher levels of UV radiation than found at lower elevations. As such, species living at high elevations must overcome these challenges to survive, grow, and reproduce. American pikas (Ochotona princeps) are alpine lagomorphs that are habitat specialists typically found at elevations >2,000 m. Previous research has shown putative evidence for high-elevation adaptation; however, investigations to date have been limited to a fraction of the genome. Here, we took a comparative genomics approach to identify putative regions under selection using a chromosomal reference genome assembly for the American pika relative to 8 other mammalian species targeted based on phylogenetic relatedness and (dis)similarity in ecology. We first identified orthologous gene groups across species and then extracted groups containing only American pika genes as well as unclustered pika genes to inform functional enrichment analyses; among these, we found 141 enriched terms with many related to hypoxia, metabolism, mitochondrial function/development, and DNA repair. We identified 15 significantly expanded gene families within the American pika across all orthologous gene groups that displayed functionally enriched terms associated with hypoxia adaptation. We further detected 196 positively selected genes, 41 of which have been associated with putative adaptation to hypoxia, cold tolerance, and response to UV following a literature review. In particular, OXNAD1, NRDC, and those genes critical in DNA repair represent important targets for future research to examine their functional implications in the American pika, especially as they may relate to adaptation to rapidly changing environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryson M F Sjodin
- Department of Biology, University of British Columbia, Okanagan Campus , Kelowna, V1V 1V7 BC, Canada
| | - Michael A Russello
- Department of Biology, University of British Columbia, Okanagan Campus , Kelowna, V1V 1V7 BC, Canada
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Spence AR, LeWinter H, Tingley MW. Anna's hummingbird (Calypte anna) physiological response to novel thermal and hypoxic conditions at high elevations. J Exp Biol 2022; 225:275376. [PMID: 35617822 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.243294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Many species have not tracked their thermal niches upslope as predicted by climate change, potentially because higher elevations are associated with abiotic challenges beyond temperature. To better predict whether organisms can continue to move upslope with rising temperatures, we need to understand their physiological performance when subjected to novel high-elevation conditions. Here, we captured Anna's hummingbirds - a species expanding their elevational distribution in concordance with rising temperatures - from across their current elevational distribution and tested their physiological response to novel abiotic conditions. First, at a central aviary within their current elevational range, we measured hovering metabolic rate to assess their response to oxygen conditions and torpor use to assess their response to thermal conditions. Second, we transported the hummingbirds to a location 1200 m above their current elevational range limit to test for an acute response to novel oxygen and thermal conditions. Hummingbirds exhibited lower hovering metabolic rates above their current elevational range limit, suggesting lower oxygen availability may reduce performance after an acute exposure. Alternatively, hummingbirds showed a facultative response to thermal conditions by using torpor more frequently and for longer. Finally, post-experimental dissection found that hummingbirds originating from higher elevations within their range had larger hearts, a potential plastic response to hypoxic environments. Overall, our results suggest lower oxygen availability and low air pressure may be difficult challenges to overcome for hummingbirds shifting upslope as a consequence of rising temperatures, especially if there is little to no long-term acclimatization. Future studies should investigate how chronic exposure and acclimatization to novel conditions, as opposed to acute experiments, may result in alternative outcomes that help organisms better respond to abiotic challenges associated with climate-induced range shifts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Austin R Spence
- Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, 75 N. Eagleville Road, Unit 3043, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
| | - Hannah LeWinter
- Wildlife Conservation & Management, Humboldt State University, 1 Harpst St. Arcata, CA 95521, USA
| | - Morgan W Tingley
- Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of California - Los Angeles, 621 Charles E. Young Dr. S. #951606, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
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Shi L, Chen B, Wang X, Huang M, Qiao C, Wang J, Wang Z. Antioxidant response to severe hypoxia in Brandt's vole Lasiopodomys brandtii. Integr Zool 2021; 17:581-595. [PMID: 34713576 DOI: 10.1111/1749-4877.12602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The antioxidant defense system is essential for animals to cope with homeostasis disruption and overcome oxidative stress caused by adverse environmental conditions such as hypoxia. However, our understanding of how this system works in subterranean rodents remains limited. In this study, Brandt's vole Lasiopodomys brandtii was exposed to normoxia (21% O2 ) or hypoxia (mild or severe hypoxia: 10% or 5% O2 ) for 6 h. Changes in key enzymes of the classic enzymatic antioxidant system at both mRNA and enzyme activity levels, and tissue antioxidant levels of the low-molecular-weight antioxidant system were determined in brain, liver, and kidney. Transcript levels of the upstream regulator NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) were also measured. We found that the mRNA expression of Nrf2 and its downstream antioxidant enzyme genes in L. brandtii were relatively conserved in response to hypoxia in most tissues and genes tested, except in the liver. Hepatic Nrf2, Cu/Zn SOD, GPx1, and GPx3 levels were significantly upregulated in response to mild hypoxia, whereas Mn SOD level decreased significantly in severe hypoxia. Unmatched with changes at the RNA level, constitutively high and relatively stable antioxidant enzyme activities were maintained throughout. For the low-molecular-weight antioxidant system, an abrupt increase of cerebral ascorbic acid (AA) levels in hypoxia indicated a tissue-specific antioxidant response. Although hypoxia did not cause significant oxidative damage in most tissues tested, the significant decrease in antioxidant enzyme activities (GPX and GR) and increase in lipid peroxidation in the kidney suggest that prolonged hypoxia may pose a critical threat to this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luye Shi
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Bojian Chen
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai, China.,Jiaxing-Tongji Environmental Research Institute, Jiaxing, China
| | - Xinrui Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Maolin Huang
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Congcong Qiao
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Jingou Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Zhenlong Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,Centre for Nutritional Ecology, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
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Li M, Tian X, Li X, Huang M, Huang S, Wu Y, Jiang M, Shi Y, Shi L, Wang Z. Diverse energy metabolism patterns in females in Neodon fuscus, Lasiopodomys brandtii, and Mus musculus revealed by comparative transcriptomics under hypoxic conditions. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 783:147130. [PMID: 34088150 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.147130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2020] [Revised: 03/28/2021] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The effects of global warming and anthropogenic disturbance force animals to migrate from lower to higher elevations to find suitable new habitats. As such migrations increase hypoxic stress on the animals, it is important to understand how plateau- and plain-dwelling animals respond to low-oxygen environments. We used comparative transcriptomics to explore the response of Neodon fuscus, Lasiopodomys brandtii, and Mus musculus skeletal muscle tissues to hypoxic conditions. Results indicate that these species have adopted different oxygen transport and energy metabolism strategies for dealing with a hypoxic environment. N. fuscus promotes oxygen transport by increasing hemoglobin synthesis and reduces the risk of thrombosis through cooperative regulation of genes, including Fga, Fgb, Alb, and Ttr; genes such as Acs16, Gpat4, and Ndufb7 are involved in regulating lipid synthesis, fatty acid β-oxidation, hemoglobin synthesis, and electron-linked transmission, thereby maintaining a normal energy supply in hypoxic conditions. In contrast, the oxygen-carrying capacity and angiogenesis of red blood cells in L. brandtii are promoted by genes in the CYP and COL families; this species maintains its bodily energy supply by enhancing the pentose phosphate pathway and mitochondrial fatty acid synthesis pathway. However, under hypoxia, M. musculus cannot effectively transport additional oxygen; thus, its cell cycle, proliferation, and migration are somewhat affected. Given its lack of hypoxic tolerance experience, M. musculus also shows significantly reduced oxidative phosphorylation levels under hypoxic conditions. Our results suggest that the glucose capacity of M. musculus skeletal muscle does not provide sufficient energy during hypoxia; thus, we hypothesize that it supplements its bodily energy by synthesizing ketone bodies. For the first time, we describe the energy metabolism pathways of N. fuscus and L. brandtii skeletal muscle tissues under hypoxic conditions. Our findings, therefore, improve our understanding of how vertebrates thrive in high altitude and plain habitats when faced with hypoxic conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengyang Li
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, Henan, China
| | - Xiangyu Tian
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, Henan, China
| | - Xiujuan Li
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, Henan, China
| | - Maolin Huang
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, Henan, China
| | - Shuang Huang
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, Henan, China
| | - Yue Wu
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, Henan, China
| | - Mengwan Jiang
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, Henan, China
| | - Yuhua Shi
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, Henan, China
| | - Luye Shi
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, Henan, China.
| | - Zhenlong Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, Henan, China; School of Physical Education (Main campus), Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, Henan, China.
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