| Full text | |
| Author(s): |
Giorgi Barsotti, Adriana Maria
;
Titon Junior, Braz
;
Monteiro Titon, Stefanny Christie
;
Gomes, Fernando Ribeiro
Total Authors: 4
|
| Document type: | Journal article |
| Source: | OURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY PART A-ECOLOGICAL AND INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOG; v. 331, n. 3, p. 7-pg., 2019-03-01. |
| Abstract | |
Availability of a humid environment is essential for amphibians to carry out their activities and most species are characterized by low resistance to evaporative water loss. Moreover, dehydration severely compromises amphibian locomotor and foraging performance, representing a relevant selective factor modulating the evolution of its integrative phenotype. In this way, we hypothesized that dehydration is a stressor for toads, inducing a stress response comparable to that elicited by another commonly used stress protocol: restraint challenge. We evaluated changes in plasma levels of corticosterone (CORT), hematocrit (Hct), and neutrophil:lymphocyte (N:L) ratio in adult males of Rhinella ornata, experimentally submitted to different levels of hydration (100%, 90%, and 80% of standard body mass) and to restraint challenge. Our results showed that dehydrating toads by 10% increase CORT to levels equivalent to that obtained by restraint. Moreover, toads dehydrated by 20% show a more pronounced increase in CORT, along with increased Hct and N:L ratio. In this way, we corroborated the hypothesis that dehydration triggers a pronounced stress response in R. ornata. Highlights Dehydration can elicit a stress response in toads, by increasing corticosterone plasma levels and neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio. Corticosterone plasma levels were higher in individuals 20% dehydrated than in subjects submitted to restriction of movement, showing that dehydration may offer high intensity stress. (AU) | |
| FAPESP's process: | 13/00900-1 - Comparative study of the relationships between immunocompetence and plasmatic levels of gonadal and inter-renal steroids in toads |
| Grantee: | Fernando Ribeiro Gomes |
| 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: | 16/05024-3 - Hidric stress and immune response in frogs (Rhinella ornata) inhabiting Atlantic Forest fragments |
| Grantee: | Adriana Maria Giorgi Barsotti |
| Support Opportunities: | Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate |