Abstract:To the present study investigated the structure of Harderian gland and its antioxidases during low oxygen stress in Gansu Zokor (Myospalax cansus). The overall gross anatomic structure of Harderian gland was described and its microstructure was observed by paraffin H.E staining. The activities of antioxidases in Harderian gland including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GR) and content of malondialdehyde (MDA) in normoxia and hypoxia were measured by a spectrophotometer. The data were analyzed by the single factor analysis of variance using SPSS13.0. The results were as follows: Harderian gland of Gansu Zokor was large (Table 1), surrounding around the eye and lying in the temporal fossa under the jugal bridge (Fig. 1b). It was a tube vesicular gland and composed of columnar cells (Fig. 2a). According to the active state,the cells could be divided into thick and thin cells (Fig. 2c). In normoxic condition, the activities of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) were significantly higher than those in Rat (Rattus norvegicus), and the activity of glutathione reductase (GR) was significantly lower than that of SD Rat. The activities of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) increased rapidly and significantly, higher than those in SD Rat at low oxygen after 4 hours. The activity of glutathione reductase (GR) showed no significant change at low oxygen after 2﹣4 hours, and significantly lower than that of SD Rat. The activity of glutathione reductase (GR) was significantly higher after 2﹣6 hours (Table 1). Significantly lower malondialdehyde (MDA) content was observed in Gansu Zokor than in SD Rat (Table 2). The activities of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) in Gansu Zokor increased rapidly and significantly, higher than those in SD Rat at low oxygen after 4 hours. The same result was observed in activity of glutathione reductase (GR) after 8 hours. Significantly lower malondialdehyde (MDA) content was found than in SD Rat (Table 2). The results show that Gansu Zokor can maintain normal activity through increasing the activity of antioxidase, removing excessive free radicals induced by low oxygen condition and adapt to the environment. Glutathione reductase (GR) dose not paly a major role in antioxidant function. Underground Rodents antioxidant model was obviously different from that of the ground Rats.