Cardiorespiratory functions in mammals are exquisitely sensitive to changes in arterial O 2 levels. Hypoxia-inducible factors (e.g., HIF-1 and HIF-2) mediate transcriptional responses to reduced oxygen availability. We demonstrate that haploinsufficiency for the O 2 -regulated HIF-2α subunit results in augmented carotid body sensitivity to hypoxia, irregular breathing, apneas, hypertension, and elevated plasma norepinephrine levels in adult Hif-2α +/− mice. These dysregulated autonomic responses were associated with increased oxidative stress and decreased mitochondrial electron transport chain complex I activity in adrenal medullae as a result of decreased expression of major cytosolic and mitochondrial antioxidant enzymes. Systemic administration of a membrane-permeable antioxidant prevented oxidative stress, normalized hypoxic sensitivity of the carotid body, and restored autonomic functions in Hif-2α +/− mice. Thus, HIF-2α-dependent redox regulation is required for maintenance of carotid body function and cardiorespiratory homeostasis.blood pressure | control of ventilation | catecholamines H ypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) mediate transcriptional responses to reduced O 2 availability (1). HIF-1, the first identified member of the HIF family, is comprised of an O 2 -regulated α subunit and a constitutively expressed β subunit (2). Complete deficiency of HIF-1α in Hif-1α −/− mice results in embryonic lethality at midgestation with major malformations of the central nervous system, heart, and vasculature (3). Hif-1α +/− mice, which are partially deficient in HIF-1α expression, develop normally and are indistinguishable from their WT littermates in the sedentary state with respect to autonomic functions, including blood pressure (BP), ventilatory responses to hypoxia or hypercapnia, and plasma catecholamine levels (4). However, Hif-1α +/− mice exhibit impaired O 2 sensing by the carotid body (4, 5), the primary sensory organ for detecting hypoxemia (6, 7), and altered physiological adaptations to chronic hypoxia (5, 8).The HIF-2α subunit, also known as endothelial PAS domain protein-1 (EPAS-1), shares 48% amino acid sequence identity with HIF-1α (9). As in the case of HIF-1α, continuous hypoxia leads to HIF-2α accumulation and subsequent dimerization with HIF-1β. Transcriptional activation by HIF-2 regulates some target genes in common with HIF-1 as well as other genes that are uniquely regulated by HIF-2 (10-12). Homozygous deficiency of HIF-2α is often lethal with the surviving Hif-2α -/− mice exhibiting multiple organ pathology and increased oxidative stress as a result of impaired induction of genes encoding major antioxidant enzymes (AOEs) (12).Hif-2α +/− mice, like Hif-1α +/− mice, are phenotypically indistinguishable from WT littermates under sedentary conditions, but exhibit impaired responses to chronic hypoxia such as impaired pulmonary vascular remodeling, erythropoiesis, and retinal neovascularization (13-15). Although the carotid body is a prominent site of HIF-2α expression (16), the effects of Hi...