The harsh environment in the Tibetan plateau,the highest place in the world,poses thermoregulatory challenges and hypoxic stress to animals.The impacts of plateau environment on animal physiology and reproduction incl...The harsh environment in the Tibetan plateau,the highest place in the world,poses thermoregulatory challenges and hypoxic stress to animals.The impacts of plateau environment on animal physiology and reproduction include external factors such as strong ultraviolet radiation and low temperature,and internal factors such as animal metabolites and gut microbiota.However,it remains unclear how plateau pika adapt to high altitudes through the combination of serum metabolites and gut microbiota.To this end,we captured 24 wild plateau pikas at the altitudes of 3400,3600,or 3800 m a.s.l.in a Tibetan alpine grassland.Using the machine learning algorithms(random forest),we identified five biomarkers of serum metabolites indicative of the altitudes,that is,dihydrotestosterone,homo-l-arginine,alpha-ketoglutaric-acid,serotonin,and threonine,which were related to body weight,reproduction,and energy metabolism of pika.Those metabolic biomarkers were positively correlated with Lachnospiraceae_Agathobacter,Ruminococcaceae,or Prevotellaceae_Prevotella,suggesting the close relationship between metabolites and gut microbiota.By identifying the metabolic biomarkers and gut microbiota analysis,we reveal the mechanisms of adaptation to high altitudes in plateau pika.展开更多
The plateau zokor(Eospalax baileyi)is a key species in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau ecosystem,and fertility control could be an ideal approach to manage populations of this subterranean species.In this laboratory study...The plateau zokor(Eospalax baileyi)is a key species in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau ecosystem,and fertility control could be an ideal approach to manage populations of this subterranean species.In this laboratory study,we explored the effects of the mixture of levonorgestrel and quinestrol(EP-1,1:2),quinestrol(E),and levonorgestrel(P)on the reproductive status of plateau zokors.Groups of 5 animals of each sex were treated with different concentrations of EP-1(1,5,and 10 mg/kg),E(0.33,3.3,and 6.6 mg/kg),and P(0.67,3.35,and 6.7 mg/kg)by oral gavage over 7 successive days and killed on day 15.Body mass reduction was observed in the EP-1 and E groups.EP-1 and E significantly reduced the weight of testis and epididymis at 10 and 3.3 mg/kg,respectively.Sperm count and motility were significantly reduced by 5 mg/kg EP-1 and 0.33 mg/kg E.The levels of serum testosterone,estradiol,luteinizing hormone,and follicle stimulating hormone were significantly reduced by 5 mg/kg EP-1 and 3.3 mg/kg E.EP-1 and E significantly increased the uterine and ovarian weights at 10 and 3.3 mg/kg,respectively.In the plateau zokors,treatment with P had no influence on the reproductive status.These data demonstrate that EP-1 and E have an inhibitory effect on a range of reproductive parameters in the plateau zokors.Further assessment is required to determine the effects on breeding and recruitment in enclosure orfield experiments.展开更多
基金The authors are very grateful for the valuable comments on manuscript revisions of the editor.The authors are grateful to Metware Biotechnology Co.,Ltd for their contribution and assistance in Targeted 500 metabolomics analysis.This study was financially supported by the Leading Scientist Project of Qinghai Province(2023-NK-147)the Foundation of Science and Technology of Gansu Province(22JR5RA457)+4 种基金the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(lzujbky-2022-ct04)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32061123004)the Open Fund Project of Guangxi Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine for Genetic Diseases(GXWCH-ZDKF-2022-15,Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region)the Open Fund Project of Guangxi Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health and Birth Defect Prevention(GXWCH-ZDKF-2022-09,Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region)the Foundation of Guangxi Health Commission(S2021068).
文摘The harsh environment in the Tibetan plateau,the highest place in the world,poses thermoregulatory challenges and hypoxic stress to animals.The impacts of plateau environment on animal physiology and reproduction include external factors such as strong ultraviolet radiation and low temperature,and internal factors such as animal metabolites and gut microbiota.However,it remains unclear how plateau pika adapt to high altitudes through the combination of serum metabolites and gut microbiota.To this end,we captured 24 wild plateau pikas at the altitudes of 3400,3600,or 3800 m a.s.l.in a Tibetan alpine grassland.Using the machine learning algorithms(random forest),we identified five biomarkers of serum metabolites indicative of the altitudes,that is,dihydrotestosterone,homo-l-arginine,alpha-ketoglutaric-acid,serotonin,and threonine,which were related to body weight,reproduction,and energy metabolism of pika.Those metabolic biomarkers were positively correlated with Lachnospiraceae_Agathobacter,Ruminococcaceae,or Prevotellaceae_Prevotella,suggesting the close relationship between metabolites and gut microbiota.By identifying the metabolic biomarkers and gut microbiota analysis,we reveal the mechanisms of adaptation to high altitudes in plateau pika.
基金supported by the Program for Longyuan Youth Innovation Talents of Gansu Province of China(LQ20180918-2)the Technology Support Program of Gansu Forestry and Grassland Administration(LCJ20210020)the International Partnership Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences(152111KYSB20160089).
文摘The plateau zokor(Eospalax baileyi)is a key species in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau ecosystem,and fertility control could be an ideal approach to manage populations of this subterranean species.In this laboratory study,we explored the effects of the mixture of levonorgestrel and quinestrol(EP-1,1:2),quinestrol(E),and levonorgestrel(P)on the reproductive status of plateau zokors.Groups of 5 animals of each sex were treated with different concentrations of EP-1(1,5,and 10 mg/kg),E(0.33,3.3,and 6.6 mg/kg),and P(0.67,3.35,and 6.7 mg/kg)by oral gavage over 7 successive days and killed on day 15.Body mass reduction was observed in the EP-1 and E groups.EP-1 and E significantly reduced the weight of testis and epididymis at 10 and 3.3 mg/kg,respectively.Sperm count and motility were significantly reduced by 5 mg/kg EP-1 and 0.33 mg/kg E.The levels of serum testosterone,estradiol,luteinizing hormone,and follicle stimulating hormone were significantly reduced by 5 mg/kg EP-1 and 3.3 mg/kg E.EP-1 and E significantly increased the uterine and ovarian weights at 10 and 3.3 mg/kg,respectively.In the plateau zokors,treatment with P had no influence on the reproductive status.These data demonstrate that EP-1 and E have an inhibitory effect on a range of reproductive parameters in the plateau zokors.Further assessment is required to determine the effects on breeding and recruitment in enclosure orfield experiments.