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Ecologically relevant low oxygen levels reduce unfertilized oocyte output in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Haxen, Emma R LU ; Islam, Mazharul LU ; Grabowski, Alexandra LU ; Mohlin, Sofie LU orcid ; Posth, Nicole R ; Gopal, Sandeep LU orcid and Hammarlund, Emma U LU orcid (2026) In microPublication biology 2026.
Abstract


Caenorhabditis elegans naturally inhabits low-oxygen environments but is typically studied at 21% oxygen. We cultured adult
C. elegans at 2.5%, 5%, and 21% oxygen during the fertile period, quantifying daily output of hatched larvae, unfertilized oocytes, and abnormal progeny (unhatched embryos, dead or deformed larvae). While we found no evidence for increased fertility at low oxygen levels compared to 21%, we observed a trend towards fewer unfertilized oocytes after peak fertility at 5% oxygen and significantly fewer at 2.5%. Our results indicate that reproductive output differs between laboratory conditions (high oxygen) and moderately low oxygen levels (closer to natural environments).

Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
microPublication biology
volume
2026
article number
002266
external identifiers
  • pmid:42630904
ISSN
2578-9430
DOI
10.17912/micropub.biology.002266
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
Copyright: © 2026 by the authors.
id
b212012c-4a09-4084-afe7-57a3ac08927d
date added to LUP
2026-09-02 18:53:35
date last changed
2026-09-03 08:35:50
@article{b212012c-4a09-4084-afe7-57a3ac08927d,
  abstract     = {{<p><br>
 Caenorhabditis elegans naturally inhabits low-oxygen environments but is typically studied at 21% oxygen. We cultured adult<br>
 C. elegans at 2.5%, 5%, and 21% oxygen during the fertile period, quantifying daily output of hatched larvae, unfertilized oocytes, and abnormal progeny (unhatched embryos, dead or deformed larvae). While we found no evidence for increased fertility at low oxygen levels compared to 21%, we observed a trend towards fewer unfertilized oocytes after peak fertility at 5% oxygen and significantly fewer at 2.5%. Our results indicate that reproductive output differs between laboratory conditions (high oxygen) and moderately low oxygen levels (closer to natural environments).<br>
 </p>}},
  author       = {{Haxen, Emma R and Islam, Mazharul and Grabowski, Alexandra and Mohlin, Sofie and Posth, Nicole R and Gopal, Sandeep and Hammarlund, Emma U}},
  issn         = {{2578-9430}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  series       = {{microPublication biology}},
  title        = {{Ecologically relevant low oxygen levels reduce unfertilized oocyte output in 
        Caenorhabditis elegans.}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.17912/micropub.biology.002266}},
  doi          = {{10.17912/micropub.biology.002266}},
  volume       = {{2026}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}