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Naked mole-rat brown fat thermogenesis is diminished during hypoxia through a rapid decrease in UCP1

Author

Listed:
  • Hang Cheng

    (University of Ottawa)

  • Rajaa Sebaa

    (University of Ottawa
    University of Ottawa
    University of Shaqra)

  • Nikita Malholtra

    (University of Ottawa)

  • Baptiste Lacoste

    (University of Ottawa
    University of Ottawa Brain and Mind Research Institute
    Neuroscience Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute)

  • Ziyad El Hankouri

    (University of Ottawa
    University of Ottawa)

  • Alexia Kirby

    (University of Ottawa)

  • Nigel C. Bennett

    (University of Pretoria)

  • Barry Jaarsveld

    (University of Pretoria)

  • Daniel W. Hart

    (University of Pretoria)

  • Glenn J. Tattersall

    (Brock University)

  • Mary-Ellen Harper

    (University of Ottawa
    University of Ottawa)

  • Matthew E. Pamenter

    (University of Ottawa
    University of Ottawa Brain and Mind Research Institute)

Abstract

Naked mole-rats are among the most hypoxia-tolerant mammals. During hypoxia, their body temperature (Tb) decreases via unknown mechanisms to conserve energy. In small mammals, non-shivering thermogenesis in brown adipose tissue (BAT) is critical to Tb regulation; therefore, we hypothesize that hypoxia decreases naked mole-rat BAT thermogenesis. To test this, we measure changes in Tb during normoxia and hypoxia (7% O2; 1–3 h). We report that interscapular thermogenesis is high in normoxia but ceases during hypoxia, and Tb decreases. Furthermore, in BAT from animals treated in hypoxia, UCP1 and mitochondrial complexes I-V protein expression rapidly decrease, while mitochondria undergo fission, and apoptosis and mitophagy are inhibited. Finally, UCP1 expression decreases in hypoxia in three other social African mole-rat species, but not a solitary species. These findings suggest that the ability to rapidly down-regulate thermogenesis to conserve oxygen in hypoxia may have evolved preferentially in social species.

Suggested Citation

  • Hang Cheng & Rajaa Sebaa & Nikita Malholtra & Baptiste Lacoste & Ziyad El Hankouri & Alexia Kirby & Nigel C. Bennett & Barry Jaarsveld & Daniel W. Hart & Glenn J. Tattersall & Mary-Ellen Harper & Matt, 2021. "Naked mole-rat brown fat thermogenesis is diminished during hypoxia through a rapid decrease in UCP1," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-14, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:12:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-021-27170-2
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-27170-2
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Edward T. Chouchani & Lawrence Kazak & Mark P. Jedrychowski & Gina Z. Lu & Brian K. Erickson & John Szpyt & Kerry A. Pierce & Dina Laznik-Bogoslavski & Ramalingam Vetrivelan & Clary B. Clish & Alan J., 2016. "Mitochondrial ROS regulate thermogenic energy expenditure and sulfenylation of UCP1," Nature, Nature, vol. 532(7597), pages 112-116, April.
    2. Edward T. Chouchani & Lawrence Kazak & Mark P. Jedrychowski & Gina Z. Lu & Brian K. Erickson & John Szpyt & Kerry A. Pierce & Dina Laznik-Bogoslavski & Ramalingam Vetrivelan & Clary B. Clish & Alan J., 2016. "Correction: Corrigendum: Mitochondrial ROS regulate thermogenic energy expenditure and sulfenylation of UCP1," Nature, Nature, vol. 536(7616), pages 360-360, August.
    3. Sven Enerbäck & Anders Jacobsson & Elizabeth M. Simpson & Carmen Guerra & Hitoshi Yamashita & Mary-Ellen Harper & Leslie P. Kozak, 1997. "Mice lacking mitochondrial uncoupling protein are cold-sensitive but not obese," Nature, Nature, vol. 387(6628), pages 90-94, May.
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