Team

Supervisor

Matthew Pamenter, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Biology

mpamenter@uottawa.ca

I received my Ph.D. from the University of Toronto (2003-2008), where I studied neural mechanisms of anoxia-tolerance in turtle brain in the Buck lab. I then travelled to California to undertake a postdoctoral fellowship in the Haddad lab at UCSD (2008-2012), where I studied mechanisms of ischemic cell death in mammalian stroke models. In 2012, I began a second postdoctoral fellowship, split between the Powell lab at UCSD and the Milsom lab at UBC (2012-2015), studying neural plasticity in the hypoxic ventilatory response of rodents, including the naked mole-rat.

I am broadly interested in how hypoxia-tolerant animals have evolved to survive in low-oxygen environments. My primary focus is discovering cellular and physiological mechanisms of hypoxia-tolerance, with a specific interest in how brain cells survive with little to no oxygen and how neural networks control physiological responses to hypoxia.

Lab Members

Karen Kadamani

Honours B.Sc. Student (2019-2020); Ph.D. Student (2020- )


Publications:

Attaie Y, Breedon SA, Rehman S, Ojaghi M, Kadamani K, Pamenter ME and Storey KB (2026). MicroRNA-mediated regulation of hypoxic kidney adaptation in naked mole-rats (Heterocephalus glaber). Biochimie.

Kezar KM, Eaton L, Kadamani K, Ojaghi M, Otterbein LE, Pamenter ME and Tift MS (2025). Impact of acute and chronic hypoxia on the heme oxygenase/carbon monoxide pathway in naked mole-rats (Heterocephalus glaber). Journal of Experimental Biology.

Lashani P, Lamontagne G, Kadamani KL, and Pamenter ME (2025). Naked mole-rats employ a normoxic escape behaviour that is altered by social interaction. Biology Letters.

Ingelson-Filpula A, Kadamani K, Ojaghi M, Pamenter ME and Storey KB (2025). Hypoxia increases cardiac proteasomal activity and differentially modulates cullin-RING E3 ligases in the naked mole-rat Heterocephalus glaber. Muscles.

Kadamani KL, Logan SM and Pamenter ME (2024). Does hypoxia constrain innate pathogen defence? Acta Physiologica.

Kadamani KL, Rehnamaie-Tajadod R, Eaton L, Bengstson J, Ojaghi M, Cheng H and Pamenter ME (2024). What can naked mole-rats teach us about ameliorating hypoxia-related human diseases? Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences.

Ingelson-Filpula WA, Kadamani KL, Ojaghi M, Pamenter ME and Storey KB (2024). Hypoxia-induced down regulation of RNA m6A protein machinery in the naked mole-rat heart. Biochimie.

Reyhaneh Rahnamaie-Tajadod

Ph.D. Student (2024- )


Publications:

Kadamani KL, Rehnamaie-Tajadod R, Eaton L, Bengstson J, Ojaghi M, Cheng H and Pamenter ME (2024). What can naked mole-rats teach us about ameliorating hypoxia-related human diseases? Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences.

Catherine Cao

M.Sc. Student (2024- )

Paige Chan

M.Sc. Student (2025- )

 

Amar Bhandari

USRO undergraduate student (2023- )

 

Areeb Shaifuddien

Honours B.Sc. student (2024- )

Edward Kim

Honours B.Sc. student (2025- )

Zaynab Rachini

Honours B.Sc. student (2025- )

Ahmed Alsaleh

B.Sc. student (2025- )

Honours B.Sc. student (2025- )

Stella Ho

B.Sc. student (2025- )

 


Lab Alumni

Liam Eaton

Ph.D. Student (2018-2025)

Doctoral Thesis title: Homeostasis of reactive oxygen species in brain of hypoxia-tolerant naked mole-rats


Publications: 

Kezar KM, Eaton L, Kadamani K, Ojaghi M, Otterbein LE, Pamenter ME and Tift MS (2025). Impact of acute and chronic hypoxia on the heme oxygenase/carbon monoxide pathway in naked mole-rats (Heterocephalus glaber). Journal of Experimental Biology.

Otell G, Eaton L, Roy M and Pamenter ME (2025). Absence of a glutamatergic channel arrest mechanism in hypoxic naked mole-rat cortex. Neuroscience Letters.

Kadamani KL, Rehnamaie-Tajadod R, Eaton L, Bengstson J, Ojaghi M, Cheng H and Pamenter ME (2024). What can naked mole-rats teach us about ameliorating hypoxia-related human diseases? Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences.

Eaton L, Bengtsson J, Welch I, Halal AK and Pamenter ME (2024). Sources of reactive oxygen species in normoxic and hypoxic naked mole-rat brain. Medical Research Archives.

Eaton L, Welch I, Halal AK, Bengtsson J and Pamenter ME (2023). Apocynin reduces dihydroethidium fluorescence in naked mole-rat cortex independently of NADPH oxidase. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology A.

Eaton L, Wang T, Roy M, and Pamenter ME (2023). Naked mole-rat cortex maintains reactive oxygen species homeostasis during in vitro hypoxia or ischemia and reperfusion. Current Neuropharmacology.

Eaton L and Pamenter ME (2022). Is NADPH critical to maintain redox homeostasis in hypoxia-tolerant naked mole-rat brain? Reactive Oxygen Species.

Hadj-Moussa H, Eaton L, Cheng H, Pamenter ME and Storey KB (2022). Naked mole-rats resist the accumulation of hypoxia-induced oxidative damage. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology A.

Eaton L and Pamenter ME (2022). What to do with low O2: redox adaptations in vertebrates native to hypoxic environments. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology A.

D’Alessio S, Cheng H, Eaton L, Kraev I, Pamenter ME and Lange S (2022). Acute hypoxia alters extracellular vesicle signatures and the brain citrusllinome of naked mole-rats (Heterocephalus glaber). International Journal of Molecular Sciences.

Ingelson-Filpula WA, Cheng H, Eaton L, Pamenter ME and Storey KB (2022). Small RNA sequencing in hypoxic naked mole-rat hearts suggests microRNA regulation of RNA- and translation-related processes. FEBS Letters.

Hadj-Moussa H, Chiasson S, Cheng H, Eaton L, Storey KB and Pamenter ME (2021). MicroRNA-mediated inhibition of AMPK coordinates tissue-specific downregulation of skeletal muscle metabolism in hypoxic naked mole-rats. Journal of Experimental Biology.

Wang TH, Eaton L, and Pamenter ME (2020). Nitric oxide homeostasis is maintained during acute in vitro hypoxia and following reoxygenation in naked mole-rat but not mouse cortical neurons. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology A.

Mo Ojaghi

Ph.D. Student (2019-2025)

Doctoral Thesis title: Glucose signalling in naked mole-rats during hypoxia


Publications:

Ojaghi M and Pamenter ME (2026). IGF-Mediated glucose signalling is retained in adult naked mole-rats. Journal of Comparative Physiology B.

Attaie Y, Breedon SA, Rehman S, Ojaghi M, Kadamani K, Pamenter ME and Storey KB (2026). MicroRNA-mediated regulation of hypoxic kidney adaptation in naked mole-rats (Heterocephalus glaber). Biochimie.

Kezar KM, Eaton L, Kadamani K, Ojaghi M, Otterbein LE, Pamenter ME and Tift MS (2025). Impact of acute and chronic hypoxia on the heme oxygenase/carbon monoxide pathway in naked mole-rats (Heterocephalus glaber). Journal of Experimental Biology.

Ojaghi M and Pamenter ME (2025). Severe acute hypoxia upregulates anaerobic metabolism in non-reproductive but not queen naked mole-rats. Journal of Experimental Biology.

Ingelson-Filpula A, Kadamani K, Ojaghi M, Pamenter ME and Storey KB (2025). Hypoxia increases cardiac proteasomal activity and differentially modulates cullin-RING E3 ligases in the naked mole-rat Heterocephalus glaber. Muscles.

Ojaghi M and Pamenter ME (2024). Hypoxia impairs blood glucose homeostasis in naked mole-rat subordinate adults but not queens. Journal of Experimental Biology.

Kadamani KL, Rehnamaie-Tajadod R, Eaton L, Bengstson J, Ojaghi M, Cheng H and Pamenter ME (2024). What can naked mole-rats teach us about ameliorating hypoxia-related human diseases? Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. 

Ingelson-Filpula WA, Kadamani KL, Ojaghi M, Pamenter ME and Storey KB (2024). Hypoxia-induced down regulation of RNA m6A protein machinery in the naked mole-rat heart. Biochimie.

Deanna Turchyn

Undergraduate student (2024-2025)

Neha Erukulla

Honours B.Sc. student (2024-2025)

Aleezah Shaikh

Undergraduate student (2024-2025)

Yasmine Yassine

Undergraduate student (2024-2025)

Gloria Lamontagne

Honours B.Sc. Student (2023-2024)


Publications: 

Lashani P, Lamontagne G, Kadamani KL, and Pamenter ME (2025). Naked mole-rats employ a normoxic escape behaviour that is altered by social interaction. Biology Letters.

Pareesa Lashani

B.Sc. Student volunteer, Honours B.Sc. student (2023-2025)


Publications: 

Lashani P, Lamontagne G, Kadamani KL, and Pamenter ME (2025). Naked mole-rats employ a normoxic escape behaviour that is altered by social interaction. Biology Letters.

Claire Della Torre

B.Sc. Student volunteer, Honours B.Sc. student (2023-2024)

Soumiya Sivasathiyanathan

B.Sc. Student Volunteer (2023-2024)

George Otell

Honours B.Sc. Student, NSERC USRA Awardee (2023-2024)


Publications: 

Otell G, Eaton L, Roy M and Pamenter ME (2025). Absence of a glutamatergic channel arrest mechanism in hypoxic naked mole-rat cortex. Neuroscience Letters.

 

John Bengtsson

NSERC USRA Awardee, Honours B.Sc. Student (2022-2024)


Publications:

Kadamani KL, Rehnamaie-Tajadod R, Eaton L, Bengstson J, Ojaghi M, Cheng H and Pamenter ME (2024). What can naked mole-rats teach us about ameliorating hypoxia-related human diseases? Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences.

Eaton L, Bengtsson J, Welch I, Halal AK and Pamenter ME (2024). Sources of reactive oxygen species in normoxic and hypoxic naked mole-rat brain. Medical Research Archives.

Eaton L, Welch I, Halal AK, Bengtsson J and Pamenter ME (2023). Apocynin reduces dihydroethidium fluorescence in naked mole-rat cortex independently of NADPH oxidase. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology A.

Michael Qi

B.Sc. Student Volunteer, Honours B.Sc. Student (2022-2025)

Maiah Devereaux

Honours B.Sc. Student (2018-2019); M.Sc. Student (2019-2023)

B.Sc. Thesis title: Metabolic, ventilatory, and thermoregulatory responses of giant Zambian mole-rats to graded hypoxia and hypercapnia

M.Sc. Thesis title: Central nervous system mechanisms mediating the hypoxic ventilatory and metabolic responses of adult Damaraland mole-rats (Fukomys damarensis)


Publications:

Abar S, Devereaux MEM, Careau V and Pamenter ME (2025). Hypoxia and thermogenesis constraint peak VO2 in exercising naked mole-rats. Ecological and Evolutionary Physiology. 

Munro D, Hart DW, Sebaa R, Bennett NC, Van dermeeren E, van Jaarvsveld B, Devereaux MEM, Campbell KL, Blier PU, Harper M-E and Pamenter ME (2025). Succinate-driven cardiac mitochondrial respiration aligns with  whole-animal hypoxia-tolerance in African mole-rats. Mammalian Biology.

Devereaux MEM and Pamenter ME (2023). Adenosine and gamma-aminobutyric acid partially regulate metabolic and ventilatory responses of Damaraland mole-rats to acute hypoxia. Journal of Experimental Biology.

Devereaux MEM, Chaisson S, Brennan KF and Pamenter ME (2023). The glutamatergic drive to breath is reduced in severe but not moderate hypoxia in Damaraland mole-rats. Journal of Experimental Biology.

Devereaux MEM, Silva Rubio C, Van Breukelen F and Pamenter ME (2023). Physiological responses to hypoxia are constrained by environmental temperature in heterothermic tenrecs. Journal of Experimental Biology.

Farhat E, Devereaux MEM, Cheng H, Weber J-M and Pamenter ME (2021). Na+/K+-ATPase activity is regionally regulated by acute hypoxia in naked mole-rat brain. Neuroscience Letters.

Devereaux MEM, Campbell KL, Munro D, Blier PU and Pamenter ME (2021). Burrowing star-nosed moles (Condylura cristata) are not hypoxia-tolerant. Journal of Experimental Biology.

Clayson M, Devereaux MEM, and Pamenter ME (2020). Neurokinin-1 receptor activation is sufficient to restore the hypercapnic ventilatory response in the Substance P-deficient naked mole-rat. American Journal of Physiology.

Devereaux MEM and Pamenter ME (2020). Fossorial Giant Zambian mole-rats have blunted ventilatory responses to environmental hypoxia and hypercapnia. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology A. 

Farhat E, Devereaux MEM, ME, and Weber JM (2020). Naked mole-rats suppress energy metabolism and modulate membrane cholesterol in chronic hypoxia. American Journal of Physiology. 

Nathalie Marks de Chabris

Honours B.Sc. Student (2022-2023)

B.Sc. Thesis title: No Significant Differences in Calcium Buffering Capacity in Naked Mole-Rat (Heterocephalus glibber) Heart Mitochondria Compared to CD1 Lab Mice (Mus musculus)


Publication:

Marks de Chabris, Sabir, Perkins, Cheng, Ellisman and Pamenter (2023). Acute hypoxia does not alter mitochondrial abundance in naked mole-rats. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology A.

Bogdan Tirca

Honours B.Sc. Student (2022-2023)

 

Hang Cheng

Ph.D. Student (2018-2023)

2024 Cameron Award Winner for the best doctoral thesis in zoology in Canada

Doctoral Thesis title: Mitochondria: hubs of hypoxia-tolerance in naked mole-rats


Publications:

Jaffer B, Cheng H and Pamenter ME (2025). Ca2+ inhibits reactive oxygen species scavenging in naked mole-rat cortical homogenates. Cellular and Molecular Neurosciences.

Kadamani, Rehnamaie-Tajadod, Eaton, Bengstson, Ojaghi, Cheng and Pamenter (2024). What can naked mole-rats teach us about ameliorating hypoxia-related human diseases? Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences.

Cheng, Perkins, Ju, Kim, Ellisman and Pamenter (2023). Enhanced mitochondrial buffering prevents Ca2+ overload in naked mole-rat brain. Journal of Physiology.

Hart, Bennett, Best, van Jaarsveld, Cheng, Ivy, Kirby, Munro, Sprenger, Storey, Milsom and Pamenter (2023). The relationship between hypoxia exposure and circulating cortisol levels in social and solitary African mole-rats. General and Comparative Endocrinology.

Marks de Chabris, Sabir, Perkins, Cheng, Ellisman and Pamenter (2023). Acute hypoxia does not alter mitochondrial abundance in naked mole-rats. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology A.

Cheng, Qin, Dhillon, Dowell, Denu and Pamenter (2022). Metabolomic analysis of carbohydrate and amino acid changes induced by hypoxia in naked mole-rat brain and liver. Metabolites.

Ingelson-Filpula, Cheng, Eaton, Pamenter and Storey (2022). Small RNA sequencing in hypoxic naked mole-rat hearts suggests microRNA regulation of RNA- and translation-related processes. FEBS Letters.

Hadj-Moussa, Eaton, Cheng, Pamenter and Storey (2022). Naked mole-rats resist the accumulation of hypoxia-induced oxidative damage. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology A.

D’Alessio, Cheng, Eaton, Kraev, Pamenter and Lange (2022). Acute hypoxia alters extracellular vesicle signatures and the brain citrusllinome of naked mole-rats (Heterocephalus glaber). International Journal of Molecular Sciences.

Thoral, Farhat, Roussel, Cheng, Guillard, Pamenter, Weber and Teulier (2022). Different patterns of chronic hypoxia lead to hierarchical adaptative mechanisms in goldfish metabolism. Journal of Experimental Biology.

Cheng and Pamenter (2022). Supermole-rat to the rescue: does the naked mole-rat offer a panacea for all that ails us? Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology A.

Cheng, Sebaa, Malholtra, Lacoste, El Hankouri, Kirby, Bennett, van Jaarseld, Hart, Tattersall, Harper and Pamenter (2021). Naked mole-rat brown fat thermogenesis is diminished during hypoxia through a rapid decrease in UCP1. Nature Communications.

Cheng and Pamenter (2021). Naked mole-rat brain mitochondria tolerate in vitro ischemia. Journal of Physiology.

Cheng, Munro, Huynh and Pamenter (2021). Naked mole-rat skeletal muscle mitochondria exhibit minimal functional plasticity in acute or chronic hypoxia. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology B.

Hadj-Moussa, Chiasson, Cheng, Eaton, Storey and Pamenter (2021). MicroRNA-mediated inhibition of AMPK coordinates tissue-specific downregulation of skeletal muscle metabolism in hypoxic naked mole-rats. Journal of Experimental Biology.

Farhat, Devereaux, Cheng, Weber and Pamenter (2021). Na+/K+-ATPase activity is regionally regulated by acute hypoxia in naked mole-rat brain. Neuroscience Letters.

Farhat, Cheng, Romestaing, Pamenter and Weber (2021). Goldfish response to chronic hypoxia: Mitochondrial respiration, fuel preference and energy metabolism. Metabolites. 11(3):187.

Cheng, Munro and Pamenter (2021). Dynamic calculation of ATP/O ratios measured using Magnesium Green (MgGr)™. MethodsX.

 

Sidney Abar

Honours B.Sc. Student (2021-2022)

B.Sc. Thesis title: VO2max decreases in hypoxia-tolerant naked mole-rats (Heterocephalus glaber) during continuous strenuous exercise in hypoxia


Publications:

Abar, Devereaux, Careau and Pamenter (2025). Hypoxia and thermogenesis constraint peak VO2 in exercising naked mole-rats. Ecological and Evolutionary Physiology. 

Isabella Welch

Honours B.Sc. Student (2021-2022)

B.Sc. Thesis title: Identifying the roles of NADPH complex I of the mitochondrial electron transport chain in the production of reactive oxygen species in African naked mole-rat (Heterocephalus glaber) brain.


Publications:

Eaton, Welch, Halal, Bengtsson and Pamenter (2023). Apocynin reduces dihydroethidium fluorescence in naked mole-rat cortex independently of NADPH oxidase. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology A.

Eaton, Bengtsson, Welch, Halal and Pamenter (2024). Sources of reactive oxygen species in normoxic and hypoxic naked mole-rat brain. Medical Research Archives.

 

Jaina Patel

B.Sc. Student (2021-2022) 

Bizav Jaffer

Honours B.Sc. Student (2021-2022)

Project title: Exploring the hydrogen peroxide consumption levels in complexes I and II of brain mitochondria in the African naked mole-rats (Heterocephalus glaber)


Publication: Jaffer B, Cheng H and Pamenter ME (2025). Ca2+ inhibits reactive oxygen species scavenging in naked mole-rat cortical homogenates. Cellular and Molecular Neurosciences.

 

Katia Hughes

NSERC USRA awardee (2021)

 

Kate Brennan

Honours B.Sc. Student (2020-2021)

B.Sc. Thesis title: Effects of glutamate receptor antagonists on the hypoxic ventilatory response of Damaraland mole-rats.


Publication:

Devereaux, Chaisson, Brennan and Pamenter (2023). The glutamatergic drive to breath is reduced in severe but not moderate hypoxia in Damaraland mole-rats. Journal of Experimental Biology.

 

Maria Roy

Honours B.Sc. Student (2019-2020) 

B.Sc. Thesis title: Hypoxia-mediated changes in n-methyl-d-aspartate-evoked calcium flux in naked mole-rat cortex.


Publications: 

Otell, Eaton, Roy and Pamenter (2025). Absence of a glutamatergic channel arrest mechanism in hypoxic naked mole-rat cortex. Neuroscience Letters.

Eaton, Wang, Roy, and Pamenter (2023). Naked mole-rat cortex maintains reactive oxygen species homeostasis during in vitro hypoxia or ischemia and reperfusion. Current Neuropharmacology.

 
Dan in nature

Daniel Munro, Ph.D.

Postdoctoral Fellow (2017-2019)


Publications:

Munro D, Blier PU and Pamenter ME (2026). Assessing mitochondrial quality in non-traditional models. Canadian Journal of Zoology.

Munro, Hart, Sebaa, Bennett, Van dermeeren, van Jaarvsveld, Devereaux, Campbell, Blier, Harper and Pamenter (2025). Succinate-driven cardiac mitochondrial respiration aligns with  whole-animal hypoxia-tolerance in African mole-rats. Mammalian Biology.

Hart, Bennett, Best, van Jaarsveld, Cheng, Ivy, Kirby, Munro, Sprenger, Storey, Milsom and Pamenter (2023). The relationship between hypoxia exposure and circulating cortisol levels in social and solitary African mole-rats. General and Comparative Endocrinology.

Cheng, Munro, Huynh and Pamenter (2021). Naked mole-rat skeletal muscle mitochondria exhibit minimal functional plasticity in acute or chronic hypoxia. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology B.

Devereaux, Campbell, Munro, Blier and Pamenter (2021). Burrowing star-nosed moles (Condylura cristata) are not hypoxia-tolerant. Journal of Experimental Biology.

Cheng, Munro and Pamenter (2021). Dynamic calculation of ATP/O ratios measured using Magnesium Green (MgGr)™. MethodsX.

Munro, Baldy, Pamenter and Treberg (2019). The exceptional longevity of the naked mole-rat may be explained by exceptional mitochondrial antioxidant defenses. Aging Cell.

Munro and Pamenter (2019). Comparative studies of mitochondrial ROS in animal models: pitfalls and possibilities. Aging Cell.

Pamenter and Munro (2019), Longevity or hypoxia: who’s driving? Aging-US

 
 

Samantha Torne

Honours B.Sc. Student (2018-2019) 

 

Salome Cadrin-Aubin

Honours B.Sc. Student (2018-2019)

B.Sc. Thesis title: Vascular adaptations in muscle to exercise / work in hypoxia in 6 species of African mole-rats.

Lisa Borecky

Lisa Borecky

M.Sc. Student (2015-2018)

M.Sc. Thesis title: Hypoxia inducible factor and the control of hypoxic ventilatory and metabolic responses in Mus musculus and Heterocephalus glaber.


Publications:

Dzal, Seow, Borecky, Chung, Gill, Milsom and Pamenter (2019). Glutamatergic receptors modulate normoxic but not hypoxic ventilation and metabolism in naked mole rats. Frontiers in Physiology

Borecky and Pamenter (2017). Oxygen sensing and transcriptional regulation of adaptive hypoxic responses. In: Chemosensory sensors and systems: evolutionary significance biological effects, and new insights. New York, USA: Nova Science (M. Brandt, ed.).

photo pour labo
 

Cécile Baldy, Ph.D.

Postdoctoral Fellow (2017-2018)


Publications: 

Munro, Baldy, Pamenter and Treberg (2019). The exceptional longevity of the naked mole-rat may be explained by exceptional mitochondrial antioxidant defenses. Aging Cell

Pamenter ME and Baldy C. (2017). Chronic intermittent hypoxia contributes to sleep-disordered breathing in infants and adults. Berlin, GER: Avid Science. (S. Ravini, ed.).

 

Amanda Zhu-Pawlowsky

B.Sc. Student (Summer 2018)

Project title: Exploring the role of a moisture-mediated body temperature cooling strategy in hypoxic naked mole-rats


Publication: 

Vandewint, Zhu-Palowsky, Kirby, Tattersall and Pamenter (2019). Evaporative cooling and vasodilation mediate thermoregulation in naked mole rats during normoxia but not hypoxia. Journal of Thermal Biology.

Sarah Zhang

NSERC USRA awardee; Honours B.Sc. Student (2017-2018)

B.Sc. Thesis title: Hypercapnic ventilatory and metabolic responses in the fossorial Damaraland mole-rat: a whole-body and mechanistic perspective


Publications: 

Zhang and Pamenter (2019). Fossorial Damaraland mole rats do not exhibit a blunted hypercapnic ventilatory response. Biology Letters

Zhang and Pamenter (2019). Ventilatory, metabolic, and thermoregulatory responses of Damaraland mole rats to acute and chronic hypoxia. Journal of Comparative Physiology B

Travis Branigan

Honours B.Sc. Student (2017-2018)

B.Sc. Thesis title: Behavioural Responses to Environmental Hypercapnia in Damaraland Mole-Rats (Fukomys damarensis)


Publication:

Branigan, Elkhalifa, and Pamenter (2018). Behavioral responses to environmental hypercapnia in two eusocial species of African mole rats. Journal of Comparative Physiology A

headshot

Amanda Vandewint

Honours B.Sc. Student (2017-2018)

B.Sc. Thesis title: Exploring the role of a moisture-mediated body temperature cooling strategy in hypoxic naked mole-rats


Publication:

Vandewint, Zhu-Palowsky, Kirby, Tattersall and Pamenter ME (2019). Evaporative cooling and vasodilation mediate thermoregulation in naked mole rats during normoxia but not hypoxia. Journal of Thermal Biology.

Lewis Han

UROP awardee (2017-2018)

Alexia Kirby

B.Sc. Student (2015-2016); M.Sc. Student (2016-2018)

B.Sc. Thesis title: Behavioural, thermal, and metabolic strategies of the naked mole-rat, Hetercephalus glaber, in hypoxia.

M.Sc. Thesis title: Metabolic adaptations to acute hypoxia in naked mole-rats.


Publications:

Hart, Bennett, Best, van Jaarsveld, Cheng, Ivy, Kirby, Munro, Sprenger, Storey, Milsom and Pamenter (2023). The relationship between hypoxia exposure and circulating cortisol levels in social and solitary African mole-rats. General and Comparative Endocrinology.

Cheng, Sebaa, Malholtra, Lacoste, El Hankouri, Kirby, Bennett, van Jaarseld, Hart, Tattersall, Harper and Pamenter (2021). Naked mole-rat brown fat thermogenesis is diminished during hypoxia through a rapid decrease in UCP1. Nature Communications.

Ivy, Sprenger, Bennett, van Jaarsveld, Hart, Kirby, Yaghoubi, Storey, Milsom and Pamenter (2020). The hypoxia-tolerance of eight related African mole-rat species rivals that of naked mole-rats despite divergent ventilatory and metabolic strategies in severe hypoxia. Acta Physiologica.

Vandewint, Zhu-Palowsky, Kirby, Tattersall and Pamenter (2019). Evaporative cooling and vasodilation mediate thermoregulation in naked mole rats during normoxia but not hypoxia. Journal of Thermal Biology.

Houlahan, Kirby, Dzal, Fairman and Pamenter (2018). Divergent behavioural responses to acute hypoxia between individuals and groups of naked mole rats. Comparative Physiology and Biochemistry

Kirby, Fairman, and Pamenter (2018). Atypical behavioural, metabolic, and thermoregulatory responses to hypoxia in the naked mole rat (Hetercephalus glaber). Journal of Zoology

Ilacqua, Kirby, and Pamenter (2017). Behavioural responses of naked mole rats to acute hypoxia and anoxia. Biology Letters

Max Clayson

Honours B.Sc. Student (2016-2017)

B.Sc. Thesis title: The role of carbonic anhydrase in modulating metabolic and ventilatory responses to hypercapnia in naked mole-rats


Publication: 

Clayson, Devereaux and Pamenter (2020). Neurokinin-1 receptor activation is sufficient to restore the hypercapnic ventilatory response in the Substance P-deficient naked mole-rat. American Journal of Physiology.

Sulaf Elkhalifa

Honours B.Sc. Student (2016-2017)

B.Sc. Thesis title: Behavioural and thermal responses to hypercapnia in naked mole-rats


Publication:

Branigan, Elkhalifa, and Pamenter. (2018). Behavioral responses to environmental hypercapnia in two eusocial species of African mole rats. Journal of Comparative Physiology A

Aaron Ilacqua

Honours B.Sc. Student (2015-2016)

B.Sc. Thesis title: Behavioural and thermal responses of individual naked mole rats to environmental hypoxia within their thermoneutral zone


Publication:

Ilacqua, Kirby, and Pamenter (2017). Behavioural responses of naked mole rats to acute hypoxia and anoxia. Biology Letters

Sharn Gill

B.Sc. Student Volunteer (2015-2016)

Project title: Exploring the role of glutamatergic receptors in the control of ventilatory responses to acute and chronic hypoxia in naked mole rats


Publication:

Dzal, Seow, Borecky, Chung, Gill, Milsom and Pamenter (2019). Glutamatergic receptors modulate normoxic but not hypoxic ventilation and metabolism in naked mole rats. Frontiers in Physiology.