Future-Proofing the Brain, the Naked Mole-Rat Way

Living their entire lives in crowded, underground burrows with low oxygen and chronically elevated carbon dioxide (CO₂), they not only tolerate these conditions but actively prefer them. This talk explores how naked mole-rats have evolved remarkable neural adaptations that allow their brains to remain stable in environments that would disrupt or damage the nervous systems of most mammals.

Focusing on inhibitory brain signaling, the presentation will examine how chronic hypercapnia alters GABAergic function through pH-sensitive mechanisms, including the chloride transporter KCC2. Naked mole-rats express a rare KCC2 variant that has been linked to autism, epilepsy, and schizophrenia in humans. Yet they maintain neural stability through a combination of genetic variation, physiological buffering, and social mechanisms. These findings provide insight into how brains adapt to elevated CO₂, which is increasingly important as atmospheric CO₂ levels rise with climate change and human social density.