Comparative analysis of thyroid hormone systems in rodents with subterranean lifestyle
Abstract African mole-rats are subterranean rodents inhabiting underground burrows. This habitat entails risks of overheating, hypoxia, and scarce food availability. Consequently, many subterranean species have evolved low basal metabolism and low body temperature, but the regulation of these traits...
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Nature Portfolio
2023-02-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-30179-w |
| _version_ | 1797864646678413312 |
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| author | Patricia Gerhardt Sabine Begall Caroline Frädrich Kostja Renko Thomas B. Hildebrandt Susanne Holtze Alexandra Heinrich Arne Sahm Xheni Meci Josef Köhrle Eddy Rijntjes Yoshiyuki Henning |
| author_facet | Patricia Gerhardt Sabine Begall Caroline Frädrich Kostja Renko Thomas B. Hildebrandt Susanne Holtze Alexandra Heinrich Arne Sahm Xheni Meci Josef Köhrle Eddy Rijntjes Yoshiyuki Henning |
| author_sort | Patricia Gerhardt |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract African mole-rats are subterranean rodents inhabiting underground burrows. This habitat entails risks of overheating, hypoxia, and scarce food availability. Consequently, many subterranean species have evolved low basal metabolism and low body temperature, but the regulation of these traits at the molecular level were unknown. Measurements of serum thyroid hormone (TH) concentrations in African mole-rats have revealed a unique TH phenotype, which deviates from the typical mammalian pattern. Since THs are major regulators of metabolic rate and body temperature, we further characterised the TH system of two African mole-rat species, the naked mole-rat (Heterocephalus glaber) and the Ansell’s mole-rat (Fukomys anselli) at the molecular level in a comparative approach involving the house mouse (Mus musculus) as a well-studied laboratory model in TH research. Most intriguingly, both mole-rat species had low iodide levels in the thyroid and naked mole-rats showed signs of thyroid gland hyperplasia. However, contrary to expectations, we found several species-specific differences in the TH systems of both mole-rat species, although ultimately resulting in similar serum TH concentrations. These findings indicate a possible convergent adaptation. Thus, our study adds to our knowledge for understanding adaptations to the subterranean habitat. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T22:55:16Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a34ab3b7d48041248e07b0f0681a47e6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T22:55:16Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
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| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-a34ab3b7d48041248e07b0f0681a47e62023-03-22T11:17:44ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222023-02-0113111610.1038/s41598-023-30179-wComparative analysis of thyroid hormone systems in rodents with subterranean lifestylePatricia Gerhardt0Sabine Begall1Caroline Frädrich2Kostja Renko3Thomas B. Hildebrandt4Susanne Holtze5Alexandra Heinrich6Arne Sahm7Xheni Meci8Josef Köhrle9Eddy Rijntjes10Yoshiyuki Henning11Institute of Physiology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-EssenDepartment of General Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of Duisburg-EssenCorporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institut für Experimentelle Endokrinologie, Charité–Universitätsmedizin BerlinCorporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institut für Experimentelle Endokrinologie, Charité–Universitätsmedizin BerlinDepartment of Reproduction Management, Leibniz-Institute for Zoo and Wildlife ResearchDepartment of Reproduction Management, Leibniz-Institute for Zoo and Wildlife ResearchInstitute of Physiology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-EssenComputational Biology Group, Leibniz Institute on Aging-Fritz Lipmann InstituteCorporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institut für Experimentelle Endokrinologie, Charité–Universitätsmedizin BerlinCorporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institut für Experimentelle Endokrinologie, Charité–Universitätsmedizin BerlinCorporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institut für Experimentelle Endokrinologie, Charité–Universitätsmedizin BerlinInstitute of Physiology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-EssenAbstract African mole-rats are subterranean rodents inhabiting underground burrows. This habitat entails risks of overheating, hypoxia, and scarce food availability. Consequently, many subterranean species have evolved low basal metabolism and low body temperature, but the regulation of these traits at the molecular level were unknown. Measurements of serum thyroid hormone (TH) concentrations in African mole-rats have revealed a unique TH phenotype, which deviates from the typical mammalian pattern. Since THs are major regulators of metabolic rate and body temperature, we further characterised the TH system of two African mole-rat species, the naked mole-rat (Heterocephalus glaber) and the Ansell’s mole-rat (Fukomys anselli) at the molecular level in a comparative approach involving the house mouse (Mus musculus) as a well-studied laboratory model in TH research. Most intriguingly, both mole-rat species had low iodide levels in the thyroid and naked mole-rats showed signs of thyroid gland hyperplasia. However, contrary to expectations, we found several species-specific differences in the TH systems of both mole-rat species, although ultimately resulting in similar serum TH concentrations. These findings indicate a possible convergent adaptation. Thus, our study adds to our knowledge for understanding adaptations to the subterranean habitat.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-30179-w |
| spellingShingle | Patricia Gerhardt Sabine Begall Caroline Frädrich Kostja Renko Thomas B. Hildebrandt Susanne Holtze Alexandra Heinrich Arne Sahm Xheni Meci Josef Köhrle Eddy Rijntjes Yoshiyuki Henning Comparative analysis of thyroid hormone systems in rodents with subterranean lifestyle Scientific Reports |
| title | Comparative analysis of thyroid hormone systems in rodents with subterranean lifestyle |
| title_full | Comparative analysis of thyroid hormone systems in rodents with subterranean lifestyle |
| title_fullStr | Comparative analysis of thyroid hormone systems in rodents with subterranean lifestyle |
| title_full_unstemmed | Comparative analysis of thyroid hormone systems in rodents with subterranean lifestyle |
| title_short | Comparative analysis of thyroid hormone systems in rodents with subterranean lifestyle |
| title_sort | comparative analysis of thyroid hormone systems in rodents with subterranean lifestyle |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-30179-w |
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