The plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae) has a strong adaptability to hypoxic plateau environment. We found that the sperm-specific lactate dehydrogenase (LDH-C₄) gene expressed in plateau pika liver. In order to shed light on the function of LDH-C₄ in plateau pika liver, we determined the expression levels of Ldh-c gene in plateau pika liver by real-time PCR and western blot. After injecting N-isopropylSoxamate, a LDH-C₄ specific inhibitor, in skeletal muscle of hind legs, the activities of LDH, and the contents of LD and ATP in plateau pika liver were measured. The results indicated that the expression levels of Ldh-c mRNA and protein were 0.22±0.04 and 0.97±0.20, respectively. After 30 minutes injectedS1 ml 1 M N-isopropylSoxamate in biceps femorisSmuscle, the concentration of N-isopropyl oxamate in blood was 0.08 mM. In the liver of inhibitor group and control group, the LDH activities were 4.99±0.29 U/mg?prot and 7.36±0.42 U/mg?prot, the contents of LD were 0.38±0.05 mmol/g?prot and 0.53±0.03 mmol/g?prot, and ATP were 5.84±0.83 nmol/mg?prot and 7.78±1.06 nmol/mg?prot, respectively. The LDH activities, the contents of LD and ATP in liver of the inhibitor group were decreased significantly, and the inhibition rate of N-isopropyl oxamateSto LDH, LD and ATPSin plateau pika liver were 30.19%、32.22% and 24.94%, respectively. These results indicated that the sperm-specific lactate dehydrogenase gene expressed in plateau pika liver, the pika liver got at least 24% ATP for its life activities by catalyzing anaerobic glycolysis. As a result, the plateau pika reduced dependence on oxygen and enhanced the adaptation to the hypoxic environments.