dorsal/arxiv
View SchemaCorticosterone selectively decreases humoral immunity in female eiders during incubation
| Authors | Sophie Bourgeon, Thierry Raclot |
|---|---|
| Categories | |
| ArXiv ID | q-bio/0702017 |
| URL | https://arxiv.org/abs/q-bio/0702017 |
| DOI | 10.1242/jeb.02610 |
| Journal | J. Exp. Biol. 209 (2006) 4957-4965 |
Abstract
Immunity is hypothesized to share limited resources with other physiological functions and this may partly account for the fitness costs of reproduction. Previous studies have shown that the acquired immunity of female common eider ducks (Somateria mollissima) is suppressed during their incubation, during which they entirely fast. Corticosterone was proposed to be an underlying physiological mechanism for such immunosuppression. Therefore, the current study aimed to assess the effects of exogenous corticosterone on acquired immunity in captive eiders. To this end, females were implanted with corticosterone pellets at different stages of their incubation fast. We measured total immunoglobulin levels, T-cell-mediated immune response, body mass and corticosterone levels in these females and compared them with those of control females prior to and after manipulation (i.e. corticosterone pellet implantation). To mimic corticosterone effects on body mass, we experimentally extended fasting duration in a group of females termed ;late fasters'...
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"abstract": "Immunity is hypothesized to share limited resources with other physiological\nfunctions and this may partly account for the fitness costs of reproduction.\nPrevious studies have shown that the acquired immunity of female common eider\nducks (Somateria mollissima) is suppressed during their incubation, during\nwhich they entirely fast. Corticosterone was proposed to be an underlying\nphysiological mechanism for such immunosuppression. Therefore, the current\nstudy aimed to assess the effects of exogenous corticosterone on acquired\nimmunity in captive eiders. To this end, females were implanted with\ncorticosterone pellets at different stages of their incubation fast. We\nmeasured total immunoglobulin levels, T-cell-mediated immune response, body\nmass and corticosterone levels in these females and compared them with those of\ncontrol females prior to and after manipulation (i.e. corticosterone pellet\nimplantation). To mimic corticosterone effects on body mass, we experimentally\nextended fasting duration in a group of females termed ;late fasters\u0027...",
"arxiv_id": "q-bio/0702017",
"authors": [
"Sophie Bourgeon",
"Thierry Raclot"
],
"categories": [
"q-bio.PE"
],
"doi": "10.1242/jeb.02610",
"journal_ref": "J. Exp. Biol. 209 (2006) 4957-4965",
"title": "Corticosterone selectively decreases humoral immunity in female eiders during incubation",
"url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/q-bio/0702017"
},
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