Abstract
Elephant seals are a prime example of extreme physiological adaptation as they can hold their breath for extended periods while diving and sleeping. Remarkably, extended breath-holding in seals is associated with severe hypoxemia and ischemia but does not result in the cardiovascular complications observed in humans that suffer from heart attacks, pulmonary embolism, or sleep apnea. Similarly, elephant seals undergo spontaneous long-term absolute food deprivation while breeding, molting, and weaning. Prolonged fasting in elephant seals induces a pro-inflammatory phenotype and increases circulating cortisol without causing deleterious consequences. The cellular mechanisms that drive seals’ tolerance to such conditions, however, remain largely unknown. Hence, we have established physiologically relevant ex vivo systems, including contractile myofibers and flow-adapted endothelial cells, to study how seal cells respond to different stressors and physiological adjustments associated with fasting and breath-holding. Here, I will present data my lab has generated using those systems. Mechanistic studies using ex vivo systems along with traditional whole-organism investigations can help dissect the cellular and molecular bases of extreme physiological adaptation and exquisite metabolic regulation in elephant seals and other wild vertebrates.
Speaker
José Pablo Vázquez-Medina from the University of Bekerley.
Vázquez-Medina's profile page at the University of Bekerley.
Please note that José is visiting us here at IBV/CEES and this seminar will take place in person in the Kristine Bonnevies seminar room 3508. There will be no hybrid solutions this year for the seminar series, so do please add the event to your agenda.