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(Reference retrieved automatically from Web of Science through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

ho Rules Over Immunology? Seasonal Variation in Body Temperature, Steroid Hormones, and Immune Variables in a Tegu Lizar

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Author(s):
Madelaire, Carla B. [1, 2] ; Zena, Lucas A. [1, 2, 3] ; Dillon, Danielle [2] ; Silva, Diego P. [1] ; Hunt, Kathleen E. [4, 5] ; Buck, C. Loren [2] ; Bicego, Kenia C. [3] ; Gomes, Fernando R. [1]
Total Authors: 8
Affiliation:
[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Biosci, Dept Physiol, BR-05508090 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil
[2] No Arizona Univ, Dept Biol Sci, Flagstaff, AZ 86001 - USA
[3] Sao Paulo State Univ, Coll Agr & Vet Sci, Dept Anim Morphol & Physiol, Via Acesso Prof Paulo Donato Castellane S-N, BR-14884900 Jaboticabal, SP - Brazil
[4] Smithsonian Mason Sch Conservat, Front Royal, VA 22630 - USA
[5] George Mason Univ, Front Royal, VA 22630 - USA
Total Affiliations: 5
Document type: Journal article
Source: INTEGRATIVE AND COMPARATIVE BIOLOGY; v. 61, n. 5, p. 1867-1880, NOV 2021.
Web of Science Citations: 0
Abstract

Multiple factors can influence the immune response of ectothermic vertebrates, including body temperature (T-b), gonadal steroids, and seasonality, in ways that are thought to reflect trade-offs between energetic investment in immunity versus reproduction. Hibernating tegu lizards (Salvator merianae) are a unique model to investigate how immunocompetence might be influenced by different factors during their annual cycle. We assessed immunological measures (plasma bacterial killing ability, total and differential leukocyte count), plasma hormone levels (testosterone in males, estradiol and progesterone in females, and corticosterone {[}CORT] in both sexes), T-b, and body condition from adult tegus during each stage of their annual cycle: reproduction, post-reproduction/preparation for hibernation, and hibernation. Our hypothesis that immune traits present higher values during the reproductive phase, and a sharp decrease during hibernation, was partially supported. Immune variables did not change between life history stages, except for total number of leukocytes, which was higher at the beginning of the reproductive season (September) in both males and females. Average T-b of the week prior to sampling was positively correlated with number of eosinophils, basophils, monocytes, and azurophils, corroborating other studies showing that when animals maintain a high T-b, there is an increase in immune activity. Surprisingly, no clear relationship between immune traits and gonadal steroids or CORT levels was observed, even when including life history stage in the model. When gonadal hormones peaked in males and females, heterophil: lymphocyte ratio (which often elevates during physiological stress) also increased. Additionally, we did not observe any trade-off between reproduction and immunity traits, sex differences in immune traits, or a correlation between body condition and immune response. Our results suggest that variation in patterns of immune response and correlations with body condition and hormone secretion across the year can depend upon the specific hormone and immune trait, and that experienced T-b is an important variable determining immune response in ectotherms. (AU)

FAPESP's process: 12/24206-4 - Sazonal relationship between reproduction, energetics and immunocompetence in toads (Rhinella jimi)from Caatinga
Grantee:Carla Bonetti Madelaire
Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
FAPESP's process: 18/00406-0 - SEASONAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN IMMUNOCOMPETENCE, STERIODS AND STRESS RESPONSE IN ECTOTERMS
Grantee:Carla Bonetti Madelaire
Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
FAPESP's process: 15/04849-6 - Role of TRPV4 channels in thermoregulation in endotherms
Grantee:Kênia Cardoso Bícego
Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
FAPESP's process: 14/16320-7 - Impacts of climate/environmental change on the fauna: an integrative approach
Grantee:Carlos Arturo Navas Iannini
Support Opportunities: Research Program on Global Climate Change - Thematic Grants
FAPESP's process: 19/13164-8 - Stress markers in anurans: How stress stimuli affects saliva glucocorticoids levels and seasonality affects brain receptors
Grantee:Carla Bonetti Madelaire
Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
FAPESP's process: 17/01652-2 - Seasonal physiology in the tegu lizard Salvator merianae: an animal model for assessing physiological functions in a dynamic and changing environment
Grantee:Lucas Aparecido Zena
Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral