1
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Lodjak J, Mägi M, Verhulst S. IGF-1 receptor inhibitor OSI-906 reduces growth in nestlings of a wild passerine. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2023; 340:114293. [PMID: 37094617 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2023.114293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Revised: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/26/2023]
Abstract
Young animals need to grow to a large body size fast to maximise their survival prospects until sexual maturity. However, body size varies substantially in wild populations, and neither the selection pressures maintaining this variation, nor the regulatory mechanisms are well understood. IGF-1 administration has been shown to accelerate growth, but this does not necessarily imply that natural variation in growth rate is IGF-1 dependent. To test the latter we administered OSI-906 to pied flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca nestlings, which has an inhibitory effect on IGF-1 receptor activity. We performed the experiment in two breeding seasons to test the prediction that blocking the IGF-1 receptor downregulates growth. As predicted, OSI-906 treated nestlings had lower body mass and reached a smaller structural size than siblings receiving a vehicle only, with the mass difference being most profound at the age preceding the highest body mass growth rate. The IGF-1 receptor inhibition effect on growth varied with age and year of study, and we discuss possible explanations. The OSI-906 administration results indicate that natural variation in growth rate is regulated by IGF-1, and constitutes a novel tool to study causes and consequences of growth variation, but details of the underlying mechanism still need to be resolved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaanis Lodjak
- Department of Zoology, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Juhan Liivi Street 2, Tartu 50409, Estonia.
| | - Marko Mägi
- Department of Zoology, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Juhan Liivi Street 2, Tartu 50409, Estonia
| | - Simon Verhulst
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG Groningen, Netherlands
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2
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Jennifer T, Emily F, Neuman-Lee LA. Assessment of glucocorticoids, sex steroids, and innate immunity in wild red-eared slider turtles (Trachemys scripta elegans). Gen Comp Endocrinol 2023; 339:114288. [PMID: 37060930 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2023.114288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Revised: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 04/17/2023]
Abstract
When access to resources is limited, organisms must shift energy investment among physiological processes to survive, reproduce, and respond to unpredictable events. The shifting of these limited resources among processes may result in physiological tradeoffs, often mediated by glucocorticoids. We assessed relationships among the physiological processes of immunity, reproduction, and the stress response in wild adult red-eared slider turtles (Trachemys scripta elegans). Red-eared sliders exhibit a multi-clutching reproductive strategy that requires high energetic investment in reproduction at the beginning of the nesting season in females. Males mate in spring and undergo spermatogenesis and mating in late summer/early fall. We expected to observe tradeoffs when investment toward reproductive processes was particularly demanding. To test this, we subjected 123 individuals to a standardized acute stressor and collected blood to measure innate immunocompetence and circulating steroid hormone concentrations. Tradeoffs between female reproduction and immunocompetence occurred early in the nesting season. This high reproductive investment was evident by heightened circulating progesterone and reduced baseline innate immunity. Corticosterone (CORT) was also high during this period, indicating a role in facilitating allocation of energy. Tradeoffs were not as evident in males, though males upregulated innate immune function, baseline CORT, and testosterone prior to fall spermatogenesis and mating. Throughout the entire sampling period, both males and females increased CORT and immunocompetence following the acute standardized stressor. Taken together, we concluded that reproduction requires shifts in energy allocation in during the highest reproductive period for females but all individuals in this population remain able to respond to the standardized stressor even during increased reproductive investment. These findings reinforce the continuing evidence that physiological relationships are context-dependent and resource demands are dynamic across the reproductive season.
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Affiliation(s)
- Terry Jennifer
- Arkansas State University, PO Box 599, State University, Arkansas, 72467, USA.
| | - Field Emily
- Arkansas State University, PO Box 599, State University, Arkansas, 72467, USA; Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks, Mississippi Museum of Natural Science, 2148 Riverside Drive Jackson, MS 39202
| | - Lorin A Neuman-Lee
- Arkansas State University, PO Box 599, State University, Arkansas, 72467, USA
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3
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Lu G, Zhang X, Li X, Zhang S. Immunity and Growth Plasticity of Asian Short-Toed Lark Nestlings in Response to Changes in Food Conditions: Can It Buffer the Challenge of Climate Change-Induced Trophic Mismatch? Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13050860. [PMID: 36899717 PMCID: PMC10000144 DOI: 10.3390/ani13050860] [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: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/25/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Passerine nestlings frequently suffer from sub-optimal food conditions due to climate change-induced trophic mismatch between the nestlings and their optimal food resources. The ability of nestlings to buffer this challenge is less well understood. We hypothesized that poor food conditions might induce a higher immune response and lower growth rate of nestlings, and such physiological plasticity is conducive to nestling survival. To test this, we examined how food (grasshopper nymphs) abundance affects the expression of interferon-γ (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1 β (IL-1β) genes, plasma IGF-1 levels, body mass, and fledging rates in wild Asian short-toed lark (Alaudala cheleensis) nestlings. Linear mixed models revealed that nymph biomass significantly influenced the expression of IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-1β genes, and the level of plasma IGF-1. The expressions of IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-1β genes were negatively correlated with nymph biomass and plasma IGF-1 level. Plasma IGF-1 level, nestling body mass growth rate, was positively correlated with nymph biomass. Despite a positive correlation between the nestling fledge rate and nymph biomass, more than 60% of nestlings fledged when nymph biomass was at the lowest level. These results suggest that immunity and growth plasticity of nestlings may be an adaptation for birds to buffer the negative effects of trophic mismatch.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guang Lu
- Key Laboratory of Ecology and Environment in Minority Areas (National Ethnic Affairs Commission), Minzu University of China, Beijing 100081, China
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Xinjie Zhang
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Xinyu Li
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Shuping Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Ecology and Environment in Minority Areas (National Ethnic Affairs Commission), Minzu University of China, Beijing 100081, China
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing 100081, China
- Correspondence:
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4
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Jenni-Eiermann S, Olano Marin J, Bize P. Variation in feather corticosterone levels in Alpine swift nestlings provides support for the hypo-responsive hypothesis. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2022; 316:113946. [PMID: 34822843 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2021.113946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Revised: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
In birds, feather corticosterone values (CORTf) are increasingly used as a retrospective and integrative proxy of an individual's physiological state during the period of feather growth. Relatively high CORTf values are usually interpreted as an indicator of exposure to energy-demanding or stressful conditions during feather growth. However, in nestlings this interpretation might not always hold true. The reasons are that, firstly nestlings (especially altricial ones) still develop their hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) reactivity during the growth of their feathers. Hence, at a young age, nestlings might be unable to mount a substantial adrenocortical stress response. Secondly, some species are able to down-regulate their metabolism during food scarcity and therewith probably also their CORT release. Consequently, CORTf values may not unambiguously reflect whether nestlings have suffered from energy-demanding or stress situations. Relatively high CORTf values might indicate either energy-demanding or stressful conditions ('stress responsive hypothesis'), or - conversely - favourable conditions during the period of feather growth ('hypo-responsive hypothesis'). In the altricial Alpine swift (Tachymarptis melba), we tested which factors help to distinguish between the two hypotheses by considering factors which affect CORT release (brood size, weather) and factors which are affected by high CORT levels (nestling size and condition). We measured CORTf in 205 nestlings over 7 years and collected data on brood size, body size, body condition and prevailing weather. Nestling CORTf values were positively correlated with body condition and negatively with adverse weather, supporting the hypo-responsive hypothesis. Results from the Alpine swift study, supplemented with a survey of the literature, show that relatively easily collected parameters on brood size, nestling size and condition, and environmental factors can help to distinguish between the two hypotheses. A meaningful interpretation of nestling CORTf should only be made in the context of species-specific traits.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Pierre Bize
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Zoology Building, Tillydrone Avenue, AB24 2TZ, UK
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5
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Obomsawin AP, Mastromonaco GF, Leonard ML. Chronic noise exposure has context-dependent effects on stress physiology in nestling Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor). Gen Comp Endocrinol 2021; 311:113834. [PMID: 34181934 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2021.113834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2020] [Revised: 03/11/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Anthropogenic noise is increasing in intensity and scope, resulting in changes to acoustic landscapes and largely negative effects on a range of species. In birds, noise can mask acoustic signals used in a variety of communication systems, including parent-offspring communication. As a result, nestling birds raised in noise may have challenges soliciting food from parents and avoiding detection by predators. Given that passerine nestlings are confined to a nest and therefore cannot escape these challenges, noise may also act as a chronic stressor during their development. Here, we raised Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) nestlings with or without continuous, white noise to test whether noise exposure affected baseline and stress-induced plasma, integrated feather corticosterone levels, and immune function. Stress physiology and immune function may also vary with the competitive environment during development, so we also examined whether noise effects varied with brood size and nestling mass. We found that overall, exposure to noise did not alter nestling stress physiology or immune function. However, light nestlings raised in noise exhibited lower baseline plasma and integrated feather corticosterone than heavy nestlings, suggesting alternative physiological responses to anthropogenic stimuli. Furthermore, light nestlings in larger broods had reduced PHA-induced immune responses compared to heavy nestlings, and PHA-induced immune responses were associated with higher levels of baseline plasma and feather CORT. Overall, our findings suggest that noise can alter the stress physiology of developing birds; however, these effects may depend on developmental conditions and the presence of other environmental stressors, such as competition for resources. Our findings may help to explain why populations are not uniformly affected by noise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anik P Obomsawin
- Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2, Canada.
| | | | - Marty L Leonard
- Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2, Canada
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6
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Messina S, Edwards DP, Marasco V, Canoine V, Cosset CCP, Tomassi S, Benedick S, Eens M, Costantini D. Glucocorticoids link forest type to local abundance in tropical birds. Funct Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Simone Messina
- Behavioural Ecology & Ecophysiology Group Department of Biology University of Antwerp Wilrijk Belgium
| | - David P. Edwards
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences University of Sheffield Sheffield UK
| | - Valeria Marasco
- Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology (KLIVV) University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna Austria
| | - Virginie Canoine
- Department of Behavioural and Cognitive Biology University of Vienna Wien Austria
| | - Cindy C. P. Cosset
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences University of Sheffield Sheffield UK
| | - Suzanne Tomassi
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences University of Sheffield Sheffield UK
| | - Suzan Benedick
- School of Sustainable Agriculture Universiti Malaysia Sabah Kota Kinabalu Malaysia
| | - Marcel Eens
- Behavioural Ecology & Ecophysiology Group Department of Biology University of Antwerp Wilrijk Belgium
| | - David Costantini
- Unité Physiologie Moléculaire et Adaptation (PhyMA) Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CNRS Paris France
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7
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Grunst ML, Raap T, Grunst AS, Pinxten R, Parenteau C, Angelier F, Eens M. Early-life exposure to artificial light at night elevates physiological stress in free-living songbirds ☆. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2020; 259:113895. [PMID: 31926393 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2019] [Revised: 12/27/2019] [Accepted: 12/28/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Artificial light at night (ALAN) can disrupt adaptive patterns of physiology and behavior that promote high fitness, resulting in physiological stress and elevation of steroid glucocorticoids (corticosterone, CORT in birds). Elevated CORT may have particularly profound effects early in life, with the potential for enduring effects that persist into adulthood. Research on the consequences of early-life exposure to ALAN remains limited, especially outside of the laboratory, and whether light exposure affects CORT concentrations in wild nestling birds particularly remains to be elucidated. We used an experimental setup to test the hypothesis that ALAN elevates CORT concentrations in developing free-living birds, by exposing nestling great tits (Parus major) to ALAN inside nest boxes. We measured CORT in feathers grown over the timeframe of the experiment (7 nights), such that CORT concentrations represent an integrative metric of hormone release over the period of nocturnal light exposure, and of development. We also assessed the relationships between feather CORT concentrations, body condition, nestling size rank and fledging success. In addition, we evaluated the relationship between feather CORT concentrations and telomere length. Nestlings exposed to ALAN had higher feather CORT concentrations than control nestlings, and nestlings in poorer body condition and smaller brood members also had higher CORT. On the other hand, telomere length, fledging success, and recruitment rate were not significantly associated with light exposure or feather CORT concentrations. Results indicate that exposure to ALAN elevates CORT concentrations in nestlings, which may reflect physiological stress. In addition, the organizational effects of CORT are known to be substantial. Thus, despite the lack of an effect on telomere length and survivorship, elevated CORT concentrations in nestlings exposed to ALAN may have subsequent impacts on later-life fitness and stress sensitivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa L Grunst
- Department of Biology, Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Group, University of Antwerp, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium.
| | - Thomas Raap
- Department of Biology, Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Group, University of Antwerp, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Andrea S Grunst
- Department of Biology, Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Group, University of Antwerp, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Rianne Pinxten
- Department of Biology, Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Group, University of Antwerp, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium; Faculty of Social Sciences, Didactica Research Group, University of Antwerp, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Charline Parenteau
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, CNRS-ULR, UMR 7372, Villiers en Bois, France
| | - Frédéric Angelier
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, CNRS-ULR, UMR 7372, Villiers en Bois, France
| | - Marcel Eens
- Department of Biology, Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Group, University of Antwerp, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium
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8
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Telve K, Mägi M, Lodjak J, Kilgas P, Remm J, Mänd R. Looking at the forest through the eyes of birds: A radio-tracking study of microhabitat use in provisioning great tits. ACTA OECOLOGICA 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.actao.2020.103531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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9
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Breuner CW, Berk SA. Using the van Noordwijk and de Jong Resource Framework to Evaluate Glucocorticoid-Fitness Hypotheses. Integr Comp Biol 2019; 59:243-250. [PMID: 31268138 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icz088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Ten years ago, two reviews clarified the need to tie glucocorticoid (GC) levels directly to survival and reproductive measures. Three primary hypotheses emerged from that work: the CORT-Fitness hypothesis, the CORT-Adaptation hypothesis, and the CORT-Tradeoff hypothesis. The two reviews have since been cited nearly 900 times, but no clear consensus has emerged supporting one hypothesis over another. We propose that resource availability may be a major confound across studies. Life-history investment is determined by both allocation and acquisition, but current literature testing among the three GC-fitness hypotheses rarely incorporate metrics of resource availability. In 1986, van Noordwijk and de Jong (vN and dJ) proposed the acquisition/allocation Y-model to explain positive versus negative correlations between reproduction and survival across individuals. Their model elevated resources as critical to evaluating individual allocation strategies (favoring reproduction vs. survival), and therefore provides the ideal framework for testing across the three CORT hypotheses. Here, we review the three hypotheses in light of the last 10 years of data, introduce the vN and dJ framework as a model for fitness/GC hypothesis testing, and discuss best practices for using this framework. We believe incorporation of resource availability will reduce unexplained variability in GC-fitness tests, clarify support among the three hypotheses, and allow for greater power in testing across other context dependencies (e.g., life-history strategy) that likely regulate differential allocation to reproduction versus survival as GCs increase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Creagh W Breuner
- Organismal Biology, Ecology, and Evolution, The University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59801, USA
| | - Sara A Berk
- Organismal Biology, Ecology, and Evolution, The University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59801, USA
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10
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Monclús L, Lopez-Bejar M, De la Puente J, Covaci A, Jaspers VLB. Can variability in corticosterone levels be related to POPs and OPEs in feathers from nestling cinereous vultures (Aegypius monachus)? THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 650:184-192. [PMID: 30196218 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.08.188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2018] [Revised: 08/14/2018] [Accepted: 08/15/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are still globally distributed and some have been shown to interact with the endocrine system of birds. However, the relationship between POPs and the stress response mediated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is still poorly understood. Raising concerns are now focused on the toxic properties of emergent organophosphate ester flame retardants (OPEs), but whether OPEs interact with the HPA axis response has not yet been investigated. We measured corticosterone concentrations in feathers (CORTf) as a long-term biomarker of the bird HPA axis response and we investigated their relationship with POP and OPE concentrations in down feathers of nestling cinereous vultures (Aegypius monachus). We also examined whether high contaminant burden and high CORTf concentrations impacted the duration of chick development. The most predominant compounds were the following: p,p'-DDE (3.28 ± 0.26 ng g-1 dw) > γ-HCH (0.78 ± 0.09 ng g-1 dw) > BDE-99 (0.73 ± 0.09 ng g-1 dw) > CB-153 (0.67 ± 0.04 ng g-1 dw). The most persistent POP compounds (CB-170, -177, -180, -183, -187, -194 and p,p'-DDE) were associated (P = 0.02) with high concentrations of CORTf (range: 0.55-6.09 pg mm-1), while no relationship was found when OPEs were tested (P > 0.05). Later egg-laying was positively associated to high levels of CORTf (P = 0.02) and reduced duration of chick development (P < 0.001), suggesting a beneficial effect of the HPA axis response on the growth of the chicks. In addition, males with high concentrations of the most persistent POP compounds tended to show a reduced duration of the nestling period (P = 0.05) and an equal fledging success than chicks with lower levels. These findings suggest that POPs, but not OPEs, may interact with the HPA axis response of chicks, although levels were not high enough to cause detrimental consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Monclús
- Department of Animal Health and Anatomy, Veterinary Faculty, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain.
| | - Manel Lopez-Bejar
- Department of Animal Health and Anatomy, Veterinary Faculty, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain.
| | - Javier De la Puente
- SEO/BirdLife, Bird Monitoring Unit, Melquiades Biencinto 34, 28053, Madrid, Spain; Parque Nacional de la Sierra de Guadarrama, Centro de Investigación, Seguimiento y Evaluación, Cta. M-604, Km. 28, 28740 Rascafría, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Adrian Covaci
- Toxicological Center, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium.
| | - Veerle L B Jaspers
- ENVITOX Group, Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway.
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11
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Moreira FX, Carmo H, Melo A, André MB, Silva R, Azevedo Z, Bastos ML, de Pinho PG. The Use of Feathers from Racing Pigeons for Doping Control Purposes. J Anal Toxicol 2018; 43:307-315. [DOI: 10.1093/jat/bky088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2018] [Revised: 09/11/2018] [Accepted: 10/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Fernando X Moreira
- REQUIMTE/UCIBIO, Laboratório de Toxicologia, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, R. Jorge de Viterbo Ferreira 228, Porto, Portugal
- Departamento de Medicina Legal e Ciências Forenses, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade do Porto, Al. Prof. Hernâni Monteiro, Porto, Portugal
| | - Helena Carmo
- REQUIMTE/UCIBIO, Laboratório de Toxicologia, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, R. Jorge de Viterbo Ferreira 228, Porto, Portugal
| | - Armindo Melo
- LAQV/REQUIMTE/ Departamento de Ciências Químicas, Laboratório de Bromatologia e Hidrologia, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, Porto, Portugal
- Departamento de Saúde Ambiental, Instituto Nacional de Saúde Doutor Ricardo Jorge, Rua Alexandre Herculano, 321, Porto, Portugal
| | - Maria B André
- REQUIMTE/UCIBIO, Laboratório de Toxicologia, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, R. Jorge de Viterbo Ferreira 228, Porto, Portugal
| | - Renata Silva
- REQUIMTE/UCIBIO, Laboratório de Toxicologia, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, R. Jorge de Viterbo Ferreira 228, Porto, Portugal
| | - Zélia Azevedo
- ICETA/REQUIMTE/LAQV – Laboratório Associado para a Química Verde, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, Porto, Portugal
| | - Maria L Bastos
- REQUIMTE/UCIBIO, Laboratório de Toxicologia, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, R. Jorge de Viterbo Ferreira 228, Porto, Portugal
| | - Paula G de Pinho
- REQUIMTE/UCIBIO, Laboratório de Toxicologia, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, R. Jorge de Viterbo Ferreira 228, Porto, Portugal
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12
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Sepp T, Desaivre S, Lendvai AZ, Németh J, McGraw KJ, Giraudeau M. Feather corticosterone levels are not correlated with health or plumage coloration in juvenile house finches. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2018. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/bly029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Tuul Sepp
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
- Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Vanemuise, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Steve Desaivre
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Natural Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Adam Z Lendvai
- Department of Evolutionary Zoology and Human Biology, University of Debrecen, Nagyerdei, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - József Németh
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Egyetem, Hungary
| | - Kevin J McGraw
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Mathieu Giraudeau
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall, UK
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13
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Freeman NE, Newman AEM. Quantifying corticosterone in feathers: validations for an emerging technique. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2018; 6:coy051. [PMID: 30323931 PMCID: PMC6181252 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coy051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2018] [Revised: 07/25/2018] [Accepted: 08/27/2018] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Feather corticosterone measurement is becoming a widespread tool for assessing avian physiology. Corticosterone is deposited into feathers during growth and provides integrative and retrospective measures of an individual's hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis function. Although researchers across disciplines have been measuring feather corticosterone for the past decade, there are still many issues with the extraction and measurement of corticosterone from feathers. In this paper, we provide several directives for refining the methodology for feather hormone analysis. We compare parallelism between the standard curve and serially diluted feather tissue from wild turkeys, Canada jays, and black-capped chickadees to demonstrate the wide applicability across species. Through a series of validations, we compare methods for feather preparation, sample filtration and extract reconstitution prior to corticosterone quantification using a radioimmunoassay. Higher corticosterone yields were achieved following pulverization of the feather however, more variation between replicates was observed. Removal of the rachis also increased the amount of corticosterone detected per unit mass while glass versus paper filters had no effect, and using ethanol in the reconstution buffer decreased intra-assay variation. With these findings and continued methodological refinement, feather corticosterone has the potential to be a powerful tool for both ecologists and physiologists working with historical and contemporary specimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikole E Freeman
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON, Canada
- Corresponding author:
| | - Amy E M Newman
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON, Canada
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14
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Johns DW, Marchant TA, Fairhurst GD, Speakman JR, Clark RG. Biomarker of burden: Feather corticosterone reflects energetic expenditure and allostatic overload in captive waterfowl. Funct Ecol 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.12988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- David W. Johns
- Department of BiologyUniversity of Saskatchewan Saskatoon Canada
| | | | - Graham D. Fairhurst
- Department of Veterinary PathologyUniversity of Saskatchewan Saskatoon Canada
| | - John R. Speakman
- Institute of Biochemical and Environmental SciencesUniversity of Aberdeen Aberdeen UK
- Institute of Genetics and Developmental BiologyChinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
| | - Robert G. Clark
- Department of BiologyUniversity of Saskatchewan Saskatoon Canada
- Prairie and Northern Wildlife Research CentreEnvironment and Climate Change CanadaSaskatoonCanada
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15
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Lodjak J, Mänd R, Mägi M. Insulin‐like growth factor 1 and life‐history evolution of passerine birds. Funct Ecol 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.12993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jaanis Lodjak
- Department of ZoologyInstitute of Ecology and Earth SciencesUniversity of Tartu Tartu Estonia
| | - Raivo Mänd
- Department of ZoologyInstitute of Ecology and Earth SciencesUniversity of Tartu Tartu Estonia
| | - Marko Mägi
- Department of ZoologyInstitute of Ecology and Earth SciencesUniversity of Tartu Tartu Estonia
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16
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Tilgar V, Lind M, Lodjak J, Moks K. Corticosterone Response as an Age-Specific Mediator of Nestling Body Mass in a Wild Passerine. Physiol Biochem Zool 2017; 90:512-521. [DOI: 10.1086/692631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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17
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Lamb JS, O'Reilly KM, Jodice PGR. Physical condition and stress levels during early development reflect feeding rates and predict pre- and post-fledging survival in a nearshore seabird. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2016; 4:cow060. [PMID: 27957336 PMCID: PMC5146687 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/cow060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2016] [Revised: 10/27/2016] [Accepted: 11/02/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The effects of acute environmental stressors on reproduction in wildlife are often difficult to measure because of the labour and disturbance involved in collecting accurate reproductive data. Stress hormones represent a promising option for assessing the effects of environmental perturbations on altricial young; however, it is necessary first to establish how stress levels are affected by environmental conditions during development and whether elevated stress results in reduced survival and recruitment rates. In birds, the stress hormone corticosterone is deposited in feathers during the entire period of feather growth, making it an integrated measure of background stress levels during development. We tested the utility of feather corticosterone levels in 3- to 4-week-old nestling brown pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis) for predicting survival rates at both the individual and colony levels. We also assessed the relationship of feather corticosterone to nestling body condition and rates of energy delivery to nestlings. Chicks with higher body condition and lower corticosterone levels were more likely to fledge and to be resighted after fledging, whereas those with lower body condition and higher corticosterone levels were less likely to fledge or be resighted after fledging. Feather corticosterone was also associated with intracolony differences in survival between ground and elevated nest sites. Colony-wide, mean feather corticosterone predicted nest productivity, chick survival and post-fledging dispersal more effectively than did body condition, although these relationships were strongest before fledglings dispersed away from the colony. Both reproductive success and nestling corticosterone were strongly related to nutritional conditions, particularly meal delivery rates. We conclude that feather corticosterone is a powerful predictor of reproductive success and could provide a useful metric for rapidly assessing the effects of changes in environmental conditions, provided pre-existing baseline variation is monitored and understood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliet S. Lamb
- Department of Forestry and Environmental Conservation, and South Carolina Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, G-27 Lehotsky Hall, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
| | - Kathleen M. O'Reilly
- Department of Biology, University of Portland, 5000 N Willamette Boulevard, Portland, OR 97203, USA
| | - Patrick G. R. Jodice
- US Geological Survey South Carolina Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, and Department of Forestry and Environmental Conservation, G-27 Lehotsky Hall, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
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18
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Romero LM, Fairhurst GD. Measuring corticosterone in feathers: Strengths, limitations, and suggestions for the future. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2016; 202:112-122. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2016.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2016] [Revised: 05/02/2016] [Accepted: 05/02/2016] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
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19
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Tilgar V, Mägi M, Lind M, Lodjak J, Moks K, Mänd R. Acute embryonic exposure to corticosterone alters physiology, behaviour and growth in nestlings of a wild passerine. Horm Behav 2016; 84:111-20. [PMID: 27374762 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2016.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2016] [Revised: 06/08/2016] [Accepted: 06/26/2016] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Maternally-derived glucocorticoids can modify the normal development of young animals. To date, little is known about maternal effects that are mediated by acute embryonic exposure to glucocorticoids. In birds, elevated maternal transmission of corticosterone (CORT) to egg albumen is mainly dependent on acute stress. In this study, we increased CORT levels in the egg albumen of a wild passerine, the great tit (Parus major), breeding in favourable deciduous and less suitable coniferous habitat. Subsequently we measured the somatic growth, baseline and acute glucocorticoid responses, immunity and behaviour of prenatally manipulated offspring with respect to control siblings. We found that prenatally CORT-exposed nestlings had lower baseline CORT levels, a more rapid decline in CORT during recovery from a standardized stressor, and a reduced heterophil/lymphocyte ratio compared with controls. Although stress-induced total CORT levels remained unchanged, free CORT levels were significantly lower and the levels of corticosteroid binding globulins (CBG) significantly higher in experimental offspring. Prenatally CORT-exposed offspring begged longer after hatching than controls. Stress-induced behavioural activity of fledglings did not differ between treatments, while its association with baseline CORT levels was significant in the control group only. The body mass and tarsus length of fledglings was positively affected by manipulation in unfavourable coniferous habitat only. We conclude that maternal effects related to elevated levels of albumen CORT modify diverse aspects of offspring phenotype and potentially increase offspring performance in resource poor environments. Moreover, our results indicate that maternal glucocorticoids may suppress the effect of hormones on behavioural responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vallo Tilgar
- Department of Zoology, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Vanemuise 46, Tartu 51014, Estonia.
| | - Marko Mägi
- Department of Zoology, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Vanemuise 46, Tartu 51014, Estonia.
| | - Marianne Lind
- Department of Zoology, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Vanemuise 46, Tartu 51014, Estonia.
| | - Jaanis Lodjak
- Department of Zoology, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Vanemuise 46, Tartu 51014, Estonia.
| | - Kadri Moks
- Department of Zoology, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Vanemuise 46, Tartu 51014, Estonia.
| | - Raivo Mänd
- Department of Zoology, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Vanemuise 46, Tartu 51014, Estonia.
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20
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Dantzer B, Westrick SE, van Kesteren F. Relationships between Endocrine Traits and Life Histories in Wild Animals: Insights, Problems, and Potential Pitfalls. Integr Comp Biol 2016; 56:185-97. [DOI: 10.1093/icb/icw051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
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21
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Lodjak J, Mägi M, Sild E, Mänd R. Causal link between insulin‐like growth factor 1 and growth in nestlings of a wild passerine bird. Funct Ecol 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.12679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jaanis Lodjak
- Department of Zoology Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences University of Tartu 46 Vanemuise Street Tartu 51014 Estonia
| | - Marko Mägi
- Department of Zoology Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences University of Tartu 46 Vanemuise Street Tartu 51014 Estonia
| | - Elin Sild
- Department of Zoology Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences University of Tartu 46 Vanemuise Street Tartu 51014 Estonia
| | - Raivo Mänd
- Department of Zoology Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences University of Tartu 46 Vanemuise Street Tartu 51014 Estonia
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22
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Lodjak J, Tilgar V, Mägi M. Does the interaction between glucocorticoids and insulin-like growth factor 1 predict nestling fitness in a wild passerine? Gen Comp Endocrinol 2016; 225:149-154. [PMID: 26519758 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2015.10.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2015] [Revised: 09/29/2015] [Accepted: 10/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The crucial question in evolutionary ecology is to find out how physiological traits have coevolved so animals fit their stochastic environments. The plasticity of these different physiological mechanisms is largely mediated by hormones, like glucocorticoids and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1). Brood size manipulation with nestlings of free-living great tits (Parus major) was carried out to see the way in which plasma IGF-1 and feather corticosterone, a predictor of long-term sustained plasma corticosterone level, are associated across different nutritional conditions and how this association predicts survival during the nestling phase. We showed that the association between levels of IGF-1 and corticosterone depended on physiological condition of nestlings. Namely, there was a positive association between the hormones in nestlings from the decreased broods and a negative association in nestlings from the enlarged broods. Furthermore, we showed that the interaction between levels of IGF-1 and corticosterone was also related with the survival of the nestlings. Our results suggest that signalling pathways of IGF-1 and corticosterone most likely interact with each other in a nutrition-dependent way to maximize the rate of development and survival of nestlings in their stochastic environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaanis Lodjak
- Department of Zoology, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, 46 Vanemuise Street, Tartu 51014, Estonia.
| | - Vallo Tilgar
- Department of Zoology, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, 46 Vanemuise Street, Tartu 51014, Estonia
| | - Marko Mägi
- Department of Zoology, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, 46 Vanemuise Street, Tartu 51014, Estonia
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