1
|
Dansou DM, Zhang H, Yu Y, Wang H, Tang C, Zhao Q, Qin Y, Zhang J. Carotenoid enrichment in eggs: From biochemistry perspective. ANIMAL NUTRITION (ZHONGGUO XU MU SHOU YI XUE HUI) 2023; 14:315-333. [PMID: 37635928 PMCID: PMC10448277 DOI: 10.1016/j.aninu.2023.05.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Revised: 05/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023]
Abstract
The emergence of safe and functional eggs for consumer acceptance has gained focus. The production of carotenoid-enriched eggs has received attention due to its multifunctional biological properties. Nutritional modification of laying hens' diet can be a strategy to produce such eggs. This review presents the chemistry of carotenoids in nature and eggs, the accumulation process of carotenoids into eggs, and the functions of carotenoids in eggs. Our findings showed that carotenoids can be deposited into the egg and contribute to improving its nutritive value. The biosynthesis, chemical structure, and metabolism pathways of carotenoids lead to the deposition of carotenoids into eggs in their original or metabolized forms. Also, some factors modulate the efficiency of carotenoids in fowls before accumulation into eggs. Carotenoid-enriched eggs may be promising, ensuring the availability of highly nutritive eggs. However, further studies are still needed to comprehend the full metabolism process and the extensive functions of carotenoids in eggs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dieudonné M. Dansou
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feeding, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Huiyan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feeding, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Yanan Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feeding, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Hao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feeding, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Chaohua Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feeding, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Qingyu Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feeding, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Yuchang Qin
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feeding, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Junmin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feeding, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
George EM, Wolf SE, Bentz AB, Rosvall KA. Testing hormonal responses to real and simulated social challenges in a competitive female bird. Behav Ecol 2021; 33:233-244. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arab129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2021] [Revised: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Competitive interactions often occur in series; therefore animals may respond to social challenges in ways that prepare them for success in future conflict. Changes in the production of the steroid hormone testosterone (T) are thought to mediate phenotypic responses to competition, but research over the past few decades has yielded mixed results, leading to several potential explanations as to why T does not always elevate following a social challenge. Here, we measured T levels in tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor), a system in which females compete for limited nesting cavities and female aggression is at least partially mediated by T. We experimentally induced social challenges in two ways: (1) using decoys to simulate territorial intrusions and (2) removing subsets of nesting cavities to increase competition among displaced and territory-holding females. Critically, these experiments occurred pre-laying, when females are physiologically capable of rapidly increasing circulating T levels. However, despite marked aggression in both experiments, T did not elevate following real or simulated social challenges, and in some cases, socially challenged females had lower T levels than controls. Likewise, the degree of aggression was negatively correlated with T levels following a simulated territorial intrusion. Though not in line with the idea that social challenges prompt T elevation in preparation for future challenges, these patterns nevertheless connect T to territorial aggression in females. Coupled with past work showing that T promotes aggression, these results suggest that T may act rapidly to allow animals to adaptively respond to the urgent demands of a competitive event.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth M George
- Department of Biology, Indiana University Bloomington, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Sarah E Wolf
- Department of Biology, Indiana University Bloomington, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Alexandra B Bentz
- Department of Biology, Indiana University Bloomington, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Kimberly A Rosvall
- Department of Biology, Indiana University Bloomington, Bloomington, IN, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Langen EMA, Goerlich-Jansson VC, von Engelhardt N. Effects of the maternal and current social environment on female body mass and reproductive traits in Japanese quail ( Coturnix japonica). ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019; 222:jeb.187005. [PMID: 30679238 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.187005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2018] [Accepted: 01/18/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
The social environment of breeding females can affect their phenotype, with potential adaptive maternal effects on offspring that experience a similar environment. We housed Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) females in two group sizes (pairs versus groups of four) and studied the effects on their offspring under matched and mismatched conditions. We measured F1 body mass, reproduction, and plasma levels of androgens and corticosterone. F1 group housing led to an increase in body mass. In addition, F1 group housing had a positive effect on mass in daughters of pair-housed P0 females only, which were heaviest under mismatched conditions. At the time of egg collection for the F2 generation, F1 group-housed females were heavier, irrespective of the P0 treatment. F1 females in groups laid heavier eggs, with higher hatching success, and produced heavier offspring, most likely a maternal effect of F1 mass. F1 plasma hormones were affected by neither the P0 nor the F1 social environment. These results contrasted with effects in the P0 generation (reported previously), in which plasma hormone levels, but not mass, differed between social environments. This may be due to changes in adult sex ratios as P0 females were housed with males, whereas F1 females encountered males only during mating. Our study demonstrates potentially relevant mismatch effects of the social environment on F1 body mass and maternal effects on F2 offspring, but further study is needed to understand their adaptive significance and physiological mechanisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Esther M A Langen
- Department of Animal Behaviour, Bielefeld University, Morgenbreede 45, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany .,Department of Animals in Science and Society, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 2, 3508 TD Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Vivian C Goerlich-Jansson
- Department of Animal Behaviour, Bielefeld University, Morgenbreede 45, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany.,Department of Animals in Science and Society, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 2, 3508 TD Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Nikolaus von Engelhardt
- Department of Animal Behaviour, Bielefeld University, Morgenbreede 45, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
George EM, Rosvall KA. Testosterone production and social environment vary with breeding stage in a competitive female songbird. Horm Behav 2018; 103:28-35. [PMID: 29807035 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2018.05.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2017] [Revised: 04/02/2018] [Accepted: 05/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
In many vertebrates, males increase circulating testosterone (T) levels in response to seasonal and social changes in competition. Females are also capable of producing and responding to T, but the full extent to which they can elevate T across life history stages remains unclear. Here we investigated T production during various breeding stages in female tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor), which face intense competition for nesting sites. We performed GnRH and saline injections and compared changes in T levels 30 min before and after injection. We found that GnRH-injected females showed the greatest increases in T during territory establishment and pre-laying stages, whereas saline controls dramatically decreased T production during this time. We also observed elevated rates of conspecific aggression during these early stages of breeding. During incubation and provisioning, however, T levels and T production capabilities declined. Given that high T can disrupt maternal care, an inability to elevate T levels in later breeding stages may be adaptive. Our results highlight the importance of saline controls for contextualizing T production capabilities, and they also suggest that social modulation of T is a potential mechanism by which females may respond to competition, but only during the period of time when competition is most intense. These findings have broad implications for understanding how females can respond to their social environment and how selection may have shaped these hormone-behavior interactions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth M George
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, 1001 E. Third Street, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA.
| | - Kimberly A Rosvall
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, 1001 E. Third Street, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Giraudeau M, Ziegler AK, Mcgraw KJ, Okuliarová M, Zeman M, Tschirren B. In ovo yolk carotenoid and testosterone levels interactively influence female transfer of yolk antioxidants to her eggs. Biol Lett 2018; 14:rsbl.2018.0103. [PMID: 29875206 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2018.0103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2018] [Accepted: 05/03/2018] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Mothers can influence prenatal conditions by varying the amount of nutrients, hormones or antioxidants they provide to their developing young. Some of these substances even affect the transfer of these compounds in the next generation, but it is less clear how different maternally transmitted compounds interact with each other to shape reproductive resource allocation in their offspring. Here, we found that female Japanese quails (Coturnix japonica) that were exposed to high carotenoid levels during embryonic development transferred lower concentrations of yolk antioxidants to their own eggs later in life. This effect disappeared when both testosterone and carotenoid concentrations were manipulated simultaneously, showing long-term and interactive effects of these maternally derived egg components on a female's own egg composition. Given that exposure to high levels of testosterone during embryo development stimulates the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and impairs antioxidant defenses, we propose that carotenoids act as in ovo antioxidants in an oxidatively stressful environment (i.e. when levels of testosterone are high) but might have prooxidant properties in an environment where they are not used to counteract an increased production of ROS. In line with this hypothesis, we previously showed that prenatal exposure to increased concentrations of yolk carotenoids leads to a rise of oxidative damage at adulthood, but only when yolk testosterone concentrations were not experimentally increased as well. As a consequence, antioxidants in the body may be used to limit oxidative damage in females exposed to high levels of carotenoids during development (but not in females exposed to increased levels of both carotenoids and testosterone), resulting in lower amounts of antioxidants being available for deposition into eggs. Since prenatal antioxidant exposure is known to influence fitness-related traits, the effect detected in this study might have transgenerational consequences.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mathieu Giraudeau
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-4501, USA .,Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall TR10 9FE, UK.,Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Switzerland
| | - Ann-Kathrin Ziegler
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Switzerland.,Department of Biology, Lund University, Sölvegatan 37, Lund, Sweden
| | - Kevin J Mcgraw
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-4501, USA
| | - Monika Okuliarová
- Department of Animal Physiology and Ethology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Ilkovičova 6, 842 15, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Michal Zeman
- Department of Animal Physiology and Ethology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Ilkovičova 6, 842 15, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Barbara Tschirren
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall TR10 9FE, UK.,Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Zhou T, Hu ZY, Zhang HP, Zhao K, Zhang Y, Li Y, Wei JJ, Yuan HF. Effects of Testosterone Supplementation on Body Composition in HIV Patients: A Meta-analysis of Double-blinded Randomized Controlled Trials. Curr Med Sci 2018; 38:191-198. [PMID: 30074170 DOI: 10.1007/s11596-018-1864-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2017] [Revised: 09/13/2017] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
This study was designed to evaluate the effects of testosterone supplementation (TS) on body composition in patients with HIV and the side effects of TS. A comprehensive literature search strategy was used to retrieve relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) examining the effects of TS on body composition. Atotal of 14 eligible studies were included, enrolling 388 and 349 randomized patients in TS and control groups, respectively. The quality of studies included was assessed, and data on total body weight (BW), lean body mass (LBM), fat mass (FM), serum total testosterone (TT), free testosterone (FT) levels, and adverse events were extracted and analyzed using Review Manager software 5.3. Meta-analysis results showed that TS was associated with a small but significant modification in total BW, serum TT, and FT levels in HIV-infected patients and in patients given various drug administrations. TS also significantly increased LBM in male patients, but no significant difference in LBM was observed between female counterparts treated with TS or not. Conversely, TS relative to placebo did not lead to a significant reduction in FM. No significant difference was observed between the two groups in terms of adverse effects. Our findings suggested that TS may be recommended to improve body composition in patients with HIV-related weight loss. However, owing to the high heterogeneity across included trials, further evaluations using large-scale, multi-center, blinded RCTs are needed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ting Zhou
- Family Planning Research Institute, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Zhi-Yong Hu
- Family Planning Research Institute, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Hui-Ping Zhang
- Family Planning Research Institute, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Kai Zhao
- Family Planning Research Institute, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Family Planning Research Institute, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Ying Li
- Family Planning Research Institute, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Jia-Jing Wei
- Family Planning Research Institute, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Hong-Fang Yuan
- Family Planning Research Institute, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Okuliarova M, Meddle SL, Zeman M. Egg deposition of maternal testosterone is primarily controlled by the preovulatory peak of luteinizing hormone in Japanese quail. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2018; 256:23-29. [PMID: 28495270 PMCID: PMC5771469 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2017.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2017] [Revised: 03/27/2017] [Accepted: 05/06/2017] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Differential transfer of maternal testosterone (T) into egg yolk provides a means of adjusting an offspring's phenotype to ambient environmental conditions. While the environmental and genetic driven variability in yolk T levels is widely described, the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Here, we investigated whether neuroendocrine mechanisms controlling ovulatory processes are associated with the regulation of yolk T deposition. Circulatory profiles of luteinizing hormone (LH), T and estradiol levels were analysed during the last 7h before ovulation in Japanese quail selected for contrasting yolk T concentrations. Moreover, the pituitary responsiveness to a single challenge with gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) was evaluated. High egg T (HET) birds displayed higher concentrations of LH at 3.5h before ovulation than low egg T (LET) birds while no differences were found around the time of expected ovulation. The pre-ovulatory profile of T and estradiol levels did not differ between LET and HET females but pre-ovulatory plasma T positively correlated with LH concentrations at 6.5h and 3.5h before ovulation. The LH response to GnRH did not differ between LET and HET females. Our results demonstrate that the pre-ovulatory LH surge can determine the amount of T transferred into the egg yolk. This link between yolk T deposition and the ovulatory cycle driven variation of reproductive hormones may explain balance between the effects of circulating T on female's reproductive physiology and yolk T on offspring phenotype.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Monika Okuliarova
- Department of Animal Physiology and Ethology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovak Republic.
| | - Simone L Meddle
- The Roslin Institute, The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, The University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, UK
| | - Michal Zeman
- Department of Animal Physiology and Ethology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovak Republic; Institute of Animal Biochemistry and Genetics, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Ivanka pri Dunaji, Slovak Republic
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Kankova Z, Zeman M, Ledecka D, Okuliarova M. Variable effects of elevated egg yolk testosterone on different arms of the immune system in young quail. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2018; 256:30-36. [PMID: 28736225 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2017.07.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2017] [Revised: 06/29/2017] [Accepted: 07/16/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Zuzana Kankova
- Department of Animal Physiology and Ethology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Michal Zeman
- Department of Animal Physiology and Ethology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia; Centre of Biosciences, Institute of Animal Biochemistry and Genetics, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia.
| | - Daniela Ledecka
- Centre of Biosciences, Institute of Animal Biochemistry and Genetics, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Monika Okuliarova
- Department of Animal Physiology and Ethology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Langen EMA, von Engelhardt N, Goerlich-Jansson VC. Social environment during egg laying: Changes in plasma hormones with no consequences for yolk hormones or fecundity in female Japanese quail, Coturnix japonica. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0176146. [PMID: 28467428 PMCID: PMC5414935 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0176146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2017] [Accepted: 04/05/2017] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The social environment can have profound effects on an individual's physiology and behaviour and on the transfer of resources to the next generation, with potential consequences for fecundity and reproduction. However, few studies investigate all of these aspects at once. The present study housed female Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) in pairs or groups to examine the effects on hormone concentrations in plasma and yolk and on reproductive performance. Circulating levels of androgens (testosterone and 5-α-dihydrotestosterone) and corticosterone were measured in baseline samples and after standardised challenges to assess the responsiveness of the females' endocrine axes. Effects of the social environment on female fecundity were analysed by measuring egg production, egg mass, fertilization rates, and number of hatched offspring. Counter to expectation, females housed in pairs had higher plasma androgen concentrations and slightly higher corticosterone concentrations than females housed in groups, although the latter was not statistically significant. Pair vs. group housing did not affect the females' hormonal response to standardised challenges or yolk testosterone levels. In contrast to previous studies, the females' androgen response to a gonadotropin-releasing hormone challenge was not related to yolk testosterone levels. Non-significant trends emerged for pair-housed females to have higher egg-laying rates and higher fertility, but no differences arose in egg weight or in the number, weight or size of hatchlings. We propose that our unexpected findings are due to differences in the adult sex ratio in our social treatments. In pairs, the male may stimulate female circulating hormone levels more strongly than in groups where effects are diluted due to the presence of several females. Future studies should vary both group size and sex composition to disentangle the significance of sexual, competitive and affiliative social interactions for circulating and yolk hormone levels, and their consequences for subsequent generations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Esther M. A. Langen
- Department of Animal Behaviour, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
- Department of Animals in Science and Society, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- * E-mail:
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
10
|
Giraudeau M, Ziegler AK, Tschirren B. Long-term effect of yolk carotenoid levels on testis size in a precocial bird. Biol Lett 2017; 12:rsbl.2016.0008. [PMID: 27122006 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2016.0008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2016] [Accepted: 04/05/2016] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Conditions experienced during prenatal development can have long-lasting organizational effects on offspring. Maternal carotenoids deposited in the eggs of birds and other oviparous species play an important role during fast embryonic growth and chick development through their antioxidant properties. However, the long-term consequences of variation in maternal carotenoid transfer for the offspring have seldom been considered. Since plasma carotenoid levels at adulthood are known to influence testis size and yolk carotenoid levels influence the ability to extract carotenoids later in life, we hypothesized that maternally transmitted carotenoids might influence gonad size at adulthood. Here, we showed that male Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) originating from a carotenoid-enriched egg had smaller testes than control individuals at adulthood. This result shows that yolk carotenoids have long-term organizational effects. In addition, given that carotenoid intake at sexual maturity increases sperm quality and that a decreased testis size is associated with a lower sperm production, we propose that carotenoid exposure during embryo development might influence a trade-off between ejaculate size and sperm quality.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mathieu Giraudeau
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA Centre for Ecology and Conservation, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall, TR10 9FE, UK
| | - Ann-Kathrin Ziegler
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Barbara Tschirren
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Giraudeau M, Ziegler AK, Pick JL, Ducatez S, Canale CI, Tschirren B. Interactive effects of yolk testosterone and carotenoid on prenatal growth and offspring physiology in a precocial bird. Behav Ecol 2016. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arw127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
|
12
|
Yolk steroids in great tit Parus major eggs: variation and covariation between hormones and with environmental and parental factors. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2016; 70:843-856. [PMID: 27217613 PMCID: PMC4859857 DOI: 10.1007/s00265-016-2107-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2014] [Revised: 03/20/2016] [Accepted: 03/21/2016] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Abstract Avian mothers can potentially alter the phenotypes of their offspring by varying the concentration of steroid hormones in their eggs. We explored variation in androstenedione (A4), testosterone (T), 5α-dihydrotestosterone (DHT), 17β-estradiol (E2), and corticosterone (CORT) in the yolks of 12 free-living great tit Parus major clutches. We analyzed variation and covariation in greater detail than previous studies, using models for variation with laying sequence that take into account variable clutch size and comparing correlations between pairs of hormones at the within- and between-clutch levels. We also investigated relationships between hormone levels and various environmental, life history, and parental traits. For three of the five steroids, we found no significant correlates, but based on individual statistical tests (a) DHT varied between clutches with male age (1 year old vs older); (b) DHT and CORT were negatively correlated within clutches with the average temperature on the day (DHT and CORT) or 3 days (DHT only) preceding laying; and (c) DHT in the last egg of the clutch relative to the clutch mean was positively correlated with the interval between clutch completion and the onset of incubation (incubation delay). Relationships with ambient temperature and incubation delay have not previously been reported for any yolk hormone in birds. Intriguingly, the three relationships for DHT are consistent with more DHT being transferred to eggs in situations that could be more energetically challenging for the female. More research is needed to determine the generality of the patterns we found and to understand their functional significance. Significance statement The yolks of birds’ eggs contain steroid hormones produced by the mother which can affect the development and behavior of the resultant chicks. We analyzed five steroid hormones in the yolks of wild great tits and show for the first time that yolk hormone levels are related to ambient temperature in the day(s) just before laying and, in the last-laid egg, with the day it is laid relative to the onset of incubation, and that the concentrations of pairs of yolk hormones can vary with each other in a different way between and within clutches. These results contribute insights into the ways in which yolk hormones may adaptively modify the chicks or may reflect physiological processes occurring in the mother. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00265-016-2107-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Collapse
|
13
|
Carotenoids increase immunity and sex specifically affect color and redox homeostasis in a monochromatic seabird. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-015-1922-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
|
14
|
Okuliarova M, Kankova Z, Bertin A, Leterrier C, Mostl E, Zeman M. Maternally derived egg hormones, antibodies and antimicrobial proteins: common and different pathways of maternal effects in Japanese quail. PLoS One 2014; 9:e112817. [PMID: 25390303 PMCID: PMC4229250 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0112817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2014] [Accepted: 10/15/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Avian eggs contain a variety of maternally-derived substances that can influence the development and performance of offspring. The levels of these egg compounds vary in relation to environmental and genetic factors, but little is known about whether there are correlative links between maternal substances in the egg underlying common and different pathways of maternal effects. In the present study, we investigated genetically determined variability and mutually adjusted deposition of sex hormones (testosterone-T, androstenedione-A4 and progesterone-P4), antibodies (IgY) and antimicrobial proteins (lysozyme) in eggs of Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica). We used different genetic lines that were independently selected for yolk T concentrations, duration of tonic immobility and social reinstatement behaviour, since both selections for behavioural traits (fearfulness and social motivation, respectively) produced considerable correlative responses in yolk androgen levels. A higher selection potential was found for increased rather than decreased yolk T concentrations, suggesting that there is a physiological minimum in egg T levels. Line differences in yolk IgY concentrations were manifested within each selection experiment, but no consistent inter-line pattern between yolk IgY and T was revealed. On the other hand, a consistent inverse inter-line pattern was recorded between yolk IgY and P4 in both selections for behavioural traits. In addition, selections for contrasting fearfulness and social motivation were associated with changes in albumen lysozyme concentrations and an inverse inter-line pattern between the deposition of yolk IgY and albumen lysozyme was found in lines selected for the level of social motivation. Thus, our results demonstrate genetically-driven changes in deposition of yolk T, P4, antibodies and albumen lysozyme in the egg. This genetic variability can partially explain mutually adjusted maternal deposition of sex hormones and immune-competent molecules but the inconsistent pattern of inter-line differences across all selections indicates that there are other underlying mechanisms, which require further studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Monika Okuliarova
- Department of Animal Physiology and Ethology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
- * E-mail:
| | - Zuzana Kankova
- Department of Animal Physiology and Ethology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Aline Bertin
- INRA Val de Loire, UMR 85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements CNRS-UMR 7247 - Université de Tours – IFCE, Nouzilly, France
| | - Christine Leterrier
- INRA Val de Loire, UMR 85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements CNRS-UMR 7247 - Université de Tours – IFCE, Nouzilly, France
| | - Erich Mostl
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Michal Zeman
- Department of Animal Physiology and Ethology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
- Institute of Animal Biochemistry and Genetics, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Ivanka pri Dunaji, Slovak Republic
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Ho DH. Transgenerational epigenetics: the role of maternal effects in cardiovascular development. Integr Comp Biol 2014; 54:43-51. [PMID: 24813463 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icu031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Transgenerational epigenetics, the study of non-genetic transfer of information from one generation to the next, has gained much attention in the past few decades due to the fact that, in many instances, epigenetic processes outweigh direct genetic processes in the manifestation of aberrant phenotypes across several generations. Maternal effects, or the influences of maternal environment, phenotype, and/or genotype on offsprings' phenotypes, independently of the offsprings' genotypes, are a subcategory of transgenerational epigenetics. Due to the intimate role of the mother during early development in animals, there is much interest in investigating the means by which maternal effects can shape the individual. Maternal effects are responsible for cellular organization, determination of the body axis, initiation and maturation of organ systems, and physiological performance of a wide variety of species and biological systems. The cardiovascular system is the first to become functional and can significantly influence the development of other organ systems. Thus, it is important to elucidate the role of maternal effects in cardiovascular development, and to understand its impact on adult cardiovascular health. Topics to be addressed include: (1) how and when do maternal effects change the developmental trajectory of the cardiovascular system to permanently alter the adult's cardiovascular phenotype, (2) what molecular mechanisms have been associated with maternally induced cardiovascular phenotypes, and (3) what are the evolutionary implications of maternally mediated changes in cardiovascular phenotype?
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dao H Ho
- Section of Cardio-Renal Physiology and Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Birmingham, University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Rosvall KA, Bergeon Burns CM, Hahn TP, Ketterson ED. Sources of variation in HPG axis reactivity and individually consistent elevation of sex steroids in a female songbird. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2013; 194:230-9. [PMID: 24090613 PMCID: PMC3852689 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2013.09.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2013] [Revised: 09/03/2013] [Accepted: 09/16/2013] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Understanding sources of individual differences in steroid hormone production has important implications for the evolution of reproductive and social behaviors. In females in particular, little is known about the mechanistic sources of these individual differences, despite established linkages between sex steroids and a variety of fitness-related traits. Using captive female dark-eyed juncos (Junco hyemalis) from two subspecies, we asked how variation in different components of the hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis related to variation in testosterone production among females, and we compared females to males in multiple components of the HPG axis. We demonstrated consistent individual differences in testosterone elevation in response to challenges with luteinizing hormone (LH) and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). These hormone challenges led to more LH production but less testosterone production in females than males, and the sexes differed in some but not all measures of sensitivity to hormones along the HPG axis. Similar to findings in males, variation in testosterone production among females was not related to variation in LH production, gonadal LH-receptor mRNA abundance, or hypothalamic abundance of androgen receptor mRNA or aromatase mRNA. Rather, the primary source of individual variation in circulating steroids appears to the gonad, a conclusion further supported by positive correlations between testosterone and estradiol production. Unlike males, females did not differ by subspecies in any of the endocrine parameters that we assessed, suggesting some degree of independent evolution between the two sexes. Our results highlight the sources of physiological variation that may underlie the evolution of hormone-mediated phenotypes in females.
Collapse
|
17
|
Female blue tits with brighter yellow chests transfer more carotenoids to their eggs after an immune challenge. Oecologia 2013; 173:387-97. [PMID: 23512200 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-013-2617-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2012] [Accepted: 02/05/2013] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Female ornaments are present in many species, and it is more and more accepted that sexual or social selection may lead to their evolution. By contrast, the information conveyed by female ornaments is less well understood. Here, we investigated the links between female ornaments and maternal effects. In birds, an important maternal effect is the transmission of resources, such as carotenoids, into egg yolk. Carotenoids are pigments with antioxidant and immunomodulatory properties that are crucial for females and developing offspring. In blue tits, we evaluated whether ultraviolet (UV)/blue and yellow feather colouration signals a female's capacity to allocate carotenoids to egg yolk. Because mounting an immune response is costly and trade-offs are more detectable under harsh conditions, we challenged the immune system of females before laying and examined the carotenoid level of their eggs afterward. A positive association between feather carotenoid chroma and egg carotenoid level would be expected if yellow colouration signals basal immunity. Alternatively, if female colouration more generally reflects maternal capacity to invest in reproduction under challenging conditions, then other components of colouration (i.e. yellow brightness and UV/blue colouration) could be linked to maternal capacity to invest in eggs. No association between egg carotenoid levels and UV/blue crown colouration or female yellow chest chroma was found; the latter result suggests that yellow colouration does not signal immune capacity at laying in this species. By contrast, we found that, among females that mounted a detectable response to the vaccine, those with brighter yellow chests transmitted more carotenoids into their eggs. This result suggests yellow brightness signals maternal capacity to invest in reproduction under challenging conditions, and that male blue tits may benefit directly from choosing brighter yellow females.
Collapse
|
18
|
Egbert JR, Jackson MF, Rodgers BD, Schwabl H. Between-female variation in house sparrow yolk testosterone concentration is negatively associated with CYP19A1 (aromatase) mRNA expression in ovarian follicles. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2013; 183:53-62. [PMID: 23247271 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2012.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2012] [Revised: 11/16/2012] [Accepted: 12/03/2012] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Maternally-derived yolk androgens influence the development and long-term phenotype of offspring in oviparous species. Between-female variation in the amounts of these yolk androgens has been associated with a number of social and environmental factors, suggesting that the variation is adaptive, but the mechanisms behind it are unknown. Using two different approaches, we tested the hypothesis that variation in yolk androgen levels across individuals is associated with variation in their capacity to synthesize androgens. First, we injected female house sparrows with exogenous gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) to maximally stimulate ovarian steroidogenesis. Second, we collected pre-ovulatory follicle tissue and quantified the mRNA expression of four key enzymes of the steroid synthesis pathway: steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR), cytochrome P450-side chain cleavage enzyme (CYP11A1), 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (HSD17B1), and aromatase (CYP19A1). Thirty minutes after GnRH injection, androgen concentrations in both the plasma and in the yolks of pre-ovulatory follicles were significantly elevated compared to controls. However, this measure of steroidogenic capacity did not explain variation in yolk testosterone levels, although physiological differences between house sparrows and more widely studied poultry models were revealed by this approach. Steroidogenic enzyme mRNA levels were detectable in all samples and were significantly lower in the most mature pre-ovulatory follicles. Of the four measured genes, CYP19A1 expression exhibited a significant negative relationship with yolk testosterone concentrations in laid eggs, revealing a key mechanism for between-female variation in yolk testosterone. Furthermore, this suggests that any factors which alter the expression of CYP19A1 within an individual female could have dramatic effects on offspring phenotype.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy R Egbert
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, WA 99164-4236, United States.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
19
|
Simons MJP, Cohen AA, Verhulst S. What does carotenoid-dependent coloration tell? Plasma carotenoid level signals immunocompetence and oxidative stress state in birds-A meta-analysis. PLoS One 2012; 7:e43088. [PMID: 22905205 PMCID: PMC3419220 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0043088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 132] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2012] [Accepted: 07/16/2012] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Mechanisms maintaining honesty of sexual signals are far from resolved, limiting our understanding of sexual selection and potential important parts of physiology. Carotenoid pigmented visual signals are among the most extensively studied sexual displays, but evidence regarding hypotheses on how carotenoids ensure signal honesty is mixed. Using a phylogenetically controlled meta-analysis of 357 effect sizes across 88 different species of birds, we tested two prominent hypotheses in the field: that carotenoid-dependent coloration signals i) immunocompetence and/or ii) oxidative stress state. Separate meta-analyses were performed for the relationships of trait coloration and circulating carotenoid level with different measures of immunocompetence and oxidative stress state. For immunocompetence we find that carotenoid levels (r = 0.20) and trait color intensity (r = 0.17) are significantly positively related to PHA response. Additionally we find that carotenoids are significantly positively related to antioxidant capacity (r = 0.10), but not significantly related to oxidative damage (r = -0.02). Thus our analyses provide support for both hypotheses, in that at least for some aspects of immunity and oxidative stress state the predicted correlations were found. Furthermore, we tested for differences in effect size between experimental and observational studies; a larger effect in observational studies would indicate that co-variation might not be causal. However, we detected no significant difference, suggesting that the relationships we found are causal. The overall effect sizes we report are modest and we discuss potential factors contributing to this, including differences between species. We suggest complementary mechanisms maintaining honesty rather than the involvement of carotenoids in immune function and oxidative stress and suggest experiments on how to test these.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mirre J P Simons
- Behavioural Biology, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|