Integrated cardiorespiratory physiology

我研究心脏，一个为心肺系统提供动力的器官。我的目标是发现机制和统一的概念，解释不同的心脏设计如何帮助动物生活在高环境温度或低（或无）O2。我的研究计划的一个主题将提供新的见解专门的离子通道在心脏细胞膜，是关键，使动物的心跳是自动和节奏。我们将研究当这些通道为离子运动打开时，心跳是如何生理地启动和控制的。此外，这些离子通道的分子结构的系统发育树将创建盲鳗（最早的脊索动物的代表），软骨鱼类（在脊椎动物谱系的基础）和肺鱼（在四足动物谱系的基础）。第二个主题建立在我们对虹鳟鱼种群的生理学研究的基础上，通过自然选择或孵化实践，虹鳟鱼种群生活在这个物种不寻常的高温下。 我们将探索分子机制（DNA和RNA表达的变化），使正常的心跳在什么通常是一个超最佳温度的物种。通过扩展，我们将看到南极和北极的鱼类是否可以表达一种新的心脏设计，并在被加热到全球气候变化的现实温度后保持生理功能。不含血红蛋白的冰鱼将在南极洲进行研究（这是一项由美国国家科学基金会资助的探险），而北极鳕鱼将被运到不列颠哥伦比亚大学新的水产设施进行驯化。最后，为了启发第一批脊椎动物如何为心脏提供更安全的O2供应，我们将完成对软骨鱼类冠状动脉循环的全面系统发育和生理探索。由于所有动物都不具有冠状动脉循环，并且通过研究冠状动脉循环首次出现的基础脊椎动物的代表，我们将确定可能推动O2输送系统进化的因素，该系统在极端条件下必须继续跳动时更好地保护心脏功能。因此，我的研究计划将产生基本的形态，生理和分子信息，帮助解释心脏结构和功能如何确保动物充足的O2供应。鉴于我们的北冰洋日益变暖和我们的淡水富营养化，这一信息对加拿大人具有重要意义。

I study the heart, an organ that powers the cardiorespiratory system. I aim to discover mechanisms and unifying concepts that explain how different cardiac designs assist animals to live at a high environmental temperature or with low (or no) O2. One theme of my research program will provide new insights into specialized ion channels in cardiac cell membranes that are key to allowing an animal's heartbeat to be automatic and rhythmic. We will investigate how the heartbeat is physiologically initiated and controlled when these channels open for ion movements. Also, a phylogenetic tree of the molecular structure of these ion channels will be created for hagfish (representatives of earliest chordates), cartilaginous fishes (at the base of the vertebrate lineage) and lungfish (at the base of the tetrapod lineage). A second theme builds on our physiological studies of rainbow trout populations that, through natural selection or hatchery practices, live at unusually high temperatures for this species. We will explore molecular mechanisms (changes to DNA and in RNA expression) that allow regular heartbeats at what would be normally a supra-optimal temperature for the species. By extension, we will see if Antarctic and Arctic fishes can express a new cardiac design and maintain physiological function after being warmed to temperatures realistic for global climate change. Hemoglobin-free icefish will be studied in Antarctica (an expedition funded by the USA's National Science Foundation), while Arctic cod will be shipped to and acclimated in UBC's new aquatic facility. Lastly, to enlighten how the first vertebrates may have developed a more secure O2 supply for their heart, we will complete our comprehensive phylogenetic and physiological exploration of the coronary circulation in cartilaginous fishes. Because all animals do not possess a coronary circulation and by studying representatives of basal vertebrates in which the coronary circulation first appeared, we will identify factors that likely drove the evolution of an O2 delivery system that better secures heart function when it must continue beating in extreme conditions. Thus, my research program will generate basic morphological, physiological and molecular information that help explain how cardiac structure and function ensure an adequate O2 supply for an animal. This information is of great significance to Canadians given the increased warming of our Arctic Ocean and the eutrophication our freshwater.**