Sazonal relationship between reproduction, energetics and immunocompetence in toads (Rhinella jimi)from Caatinga

• Grant number: 12/24206-4
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): March 01, 2013
• Effective date (End): February 01, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Physiology - Compared Physiology
• Principal researcher: Fernando Ribeiro Gomes
• Grantee: Carla Bonetti Madelaire
• Home Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 15/02484-0 - Effects of extreme seasonality on metabolism and immunity of amphibians in a tropical semi-arid zone (Caatinga), BE.EP.DR

Abstract

Trade-offs between two or more phenotypic characteristics have been described in the literature as the relative fitness costs that occur when a benefic change in one characteristic is linked to a disadvantageous change in another one. In reproductive males, the expression of secondary sexual characters, including sexual behavior and territorial defense, would be associated with decresead imunocompetence and resistance to parasite infection, representing a pattern of trade-off between fitness components. This trade-off would be functionally mediated by high plasmatic levels of androgens, such as testosterone (T), and glicocorticoids, such as corticosterone (CORT). It is important to note that the intensity of steroid mediated imunossupression can be dependent of the ecological context, and recent data from our research group pointed to the existence of a seazsnal immunomolation in anuran amphibians from the brazilian semi-arid. In this way, we propose a study that explores the seasonal covariation of caracteristics associated with reproduction (T plasmatic levels and testicular maturation), energetics (CORT plasmatic levels, basal metabolic rate and fat stores) and immunocompetence [plasmatic bacterial capacity, subcutaneal inflamatory response to phytohaemagglutinin (PHA), and energetic cost of response to PHA] in male toads (Rhinella jimi) from Caatinga.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

CASSETTARI, BRUNA OLIVEIRA; MADELAIRE, CARLA BONETTI; GOMES, FERNANDO RIBEIRO. Elevated corticosterone levels are associated with increased immunocompetence in male toads, both when calling and under experimental conditions. Hormones and Behavior, v. 137, JAN 2022. Web of Science Citations: 0.

MADELAIRE, CARLA B.; ZENA, LUCAS A.; DILLON, DANIELLE; SILVA, DIEGO P.; HUNT, KATHLEEN E.; BUCK, C. LOREN; BICEGO, KENIA C.; GOMES, FERNANDO R. ho Rules Over Immunology? Seasonal Variation in Body Temperature, Steroid Hormones, and Immune Variables in a Tegu Lizar. INTEGRATIVE AND COMPARATIVE BIOLOGY, v. 61, n. 5, p. 1867-1880, NOV 2021. Web of Science Citations: 0.

MADELAIRE, CARLA BONETTI; CASSETTARI, BRUNA DE OLIVEIRA; GOMES, FERNANDO RIBEIRO. Immunomodulation by testosterone and corticosterone in toads: Experimental evidences from transdermal application. General and Comparative Endocrinology, v. 273, n. SI, p. 227-235, MAR 1 2019. Web of Science Citations: 1.

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

MADELAIRE, Carla Bonetti. Seasonal relationship between reproduction, energetics and immunocompetence in frogs from the brazilian semi-arid, Caatinga. 2018. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Biociências (IBIOC/SB) São Paulo.