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Jimeno B, Rubalcaba JG. Modelling the role of glucocorticoid receptor as mediator of endocrine responses to environmental challenge. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2024; 379:20220501. [PMID: 38310935 PMCID: PMC10838647 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2022.0501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Glucocorticoid hormones (GCs) modulate acute 'stress' responses in vertebrates, exerting their actions across many physiological systems to help the organism face and overcome challenges. These actions take place via binding to the glucocorticoid receptor (GR), which determines not only the magnitude of the GC-mediated physiological response but also the negative feedback that downregulates GCs to restore homeostasis. Although GR function is assumed to determine GC regulation capacity, the associations between GR abundance and individuals' coping abilities remain cryptic. We developed a dynamic model fitted to empirical data to predict the effects of GR abundance on both plasma GC response patterns and the magnitude of GC-mediated physiological response. Individuals with higher GRs showed lower GC exposure, stronger physiological responses and greater capacity to adjust this response according to stressor intensity, which may be translated into more resilient and flexible GC phenotypes. Our results also show that among-individual variability in GR abundance challenges the detectability of the association between plasma GC measurements and physiological responses. Our approach provides mechanistic insights into the role of GRs in plasma GC measurements and function, which point at GR abundance fundamentally driving complex features of the GC regulation system in the face of environmental change. This article is part of the theme issue 'Endocrine responses to environmental variation: conceptual approaches and recent developments'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blanca Jimeno
- Instituto Pirenaico de Ecologia (IPE), CSIC, Avda. Nuestra Señora de la Victoria 16, 22700, Jaca, Spain
| | - Juan G. Rubalcaba
- Departamento de Biodiversidad, Ecología y Evolución, Facultad CC Biológicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, José Antonio Nováis 12, 28040, Madrid, Spain
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Tóth Z, Mahr K, Ölveczki G, Őri L, Lendvai ÁZ. Food Restriction Reveals Individual Differences in Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 Reaction Norms. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.826968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Most organisms have to cope with unpredictable environmental challenges such as fluctuations in nutritional resources. Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) is an evolutionarily conserved hormone that is highly sensitive to the individual nutritional status and regulates major life-history traits including lifespan and reproduction across vertebrates. We investigated the role of IGF-1 during periods of food shortages by altering between two feeding regimes (110 and 70% of daily food intake) after a period of ad libitum feeding in captive bearded reedlings (Panurus biarmicus). Each dietary treatment was repeated twice. Birds lost mass under food restriction, but the magnitude of mass change depended on the preceding dietary conditions. Moreover, bearded reedlings showed large, repeatable individual differences in their IGF-1 reaction norms with some individuals increasing IGF-1 levels in response to a restricted diet, whereas others showed no responses or decreased IGF-1 levels. This variation was explained by differences in average body mass: heavier individuals had higher IGF-1 levels during the control treatment and were more likely to decrease IGF-1 levels in response to the dietary restriction than did lighter ones. This result uncovers an individual by environment interaction (I × E) and may have important implications for the evolution of IGF-1 related hormonal phenotypes in this species.
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Is livestock husbandry more stressing than other anthropic activities to wild carnivores? Appl Anim Behav Sci 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2021.105380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
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Guindre-Parker S. Individual Variation in Glucocorticoid Plasticity: Considerations and Future Directions. Integr Comp Biol 2020; 60:79-88. [DOI: 10.1093/icb/icaa003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
The hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis regulates the secretion of glucocorticoids, hormones with diverse roles ranging from regulating daily metabolic demand to coping with sudden perturbations. As a result, glucocorticoids are thought to help vertebrates track their changing environments and coordinate plasticity in diverse phenotypes. While this endocrine system is highly plastic—where one individual can produce multiple phenotypes across varying environmental conditions—little is understood about the degree to which individuals, populations, or species differ in circulating glucocorticoid plasticity. Empirical research quantifying individual variation in glucocorticoid plasticity has increased in recent years, though the multiple complex roles of the HPA-axis make it challenging to generalize the extent to which individual variation in plasticity exists. I provide an overview of current findings on variation in glucocorticoids plasticity, and outline multiple types of glucocorticoid plasticity researchers should consider in future work to advance our understanding of the causes and consequences of individual variation in glucocorticoid plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Guindre-Parker
- Department of Ecology, Evolution & Organismal Biology, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA 30144, USA
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Dulude‐de Broin F, Hamel S, Mastromonaco GF, Côté SD. Predation risk and mountain goat reproduction: Evidence for stress‐induced breeding suppression in a wild ungulate. Funct Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Frédéric Dulude‐de Broin
- Département de biologie Université Laval Québec City QC Canada
- Centre d'études nordiquesQuébec City QC Canada
| | - Sandra Hamel
- Département de biologie Université Laval Québec City QC Canada
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries, and Economics UiT The Arctic University of Norway Tromsø Norway
| | | | - Steeve D. Côté
- Département de biologie Université Laval Québec City QC Canada
- Centre d'études nordiquesQuébec City QC Canada
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Sarpong K, Madliger CL, Harris CM, Love OP, Doucet SM, Bitton PP. Baseline corticosterone does not reflect iridescent plumage traits in female tree swallows. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2019; 270:123-130. [PMID: 30392885 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2018.10.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2018] [Revised: 10/03/2018] [Accepted: 10/23/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The production of high quality secondary sexual traits can be constrained by trade-offs in the allocation of energy and nutrients with other metabolic activities, and is mediated by physiological processes. In birds, the factors influencing male plumage quality have been well studied; however, factors affecting female plumage quality are poorly understood. Furthermore, it remains uncertain which physiological traits mediate the relationship between body condition and ornaments. In this three-year study of after-second-year female tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor), we investigated (1) the relationship between baseline corticosterone near the end of the brood-rearing period (CORTBR) and feather colour characteristics (hue, saturation, brightness) the following year, and (2) the relationship between baseline corticosterone measured during incubation (CORTI) and brood rearing (CORTBR), and feather colour in the same year. To control for reproductive effort, we included reproductive parameters as covariates in all analyses. In this first study between CORT and the plumage colour characteristics of a species bearing iridescent feathers, we did not find any relationship between CORTBR and the colour of subsequently-produced feathers, nor did we find any relationship between CORT and the colour of feathers displayed during that breeding season. If CORT levels at the end of breeding carry over to influence the immediately subsequent moult period as we expect, our results generally indicate that structural plumage quality may not be as sensitive to circulating CORT levels compared to carotenoid-based colouration. Future studies, particularly those employing experimental manipulations of CORT during moult in species with iridescent traits, are necessary to fully determine the role glucocorticoids play in mediating the quality of secondary sexual characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keneth Sarpong
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario N9B 3P4, Canada.
| | - Christine L Madliger
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario N9B 3P4, Canada.
| | - Christopher M Harris
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario N9B 3P4, Canada.
| | - Oliver P Love
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario N9B 3P4, Canada.
| | - Stéphanie M Doucet
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario N9B 3P4, Canada.
| | - Pierre-Paul Bitton
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario N9B 3P4, Canada.
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Guindre-Parker S. The Evolutionary Endocrinology of Circulating Glucocorticoids in Free-Living Vertebrates: Recent Advances and Future Directions across Scales of Study. Integr Comp Biol 2018; 58:814-825. [DOI: 10.1093/icb/icy048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Guindre-Parker
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Summerlee Science Complex, Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 2W1
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Angelier F, Costantini D, Blévin P, Chastel O. Do glucocorticoids mediate the link between environmental conditions and telomere dynamics in wild vertebrates? A review. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2018; 256:99-111. [PMID: 28705731 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2017.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2017] [Revised: 06/06/2017] [Accepted: 07/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Following the discoveries of telomeres and of their implications in terms of health and ageing, there has been a growing interest into the study of telomere dynamics in wild vertebrates. Telomeres are repeated sequences of non-coding DNA located at the terminal ends of chromosomes and they play a major role in maintaining chromosome stability. Importantly, telomeres shorten over time and shorter telomeres seem to be related with lower survival in vertebrates. Because of this potential link with longevity, it is crucial to understand not only the ecological determinants of telomere dynamics but also the regulatory endocrine mechanisms that may mediate the effect of the environment on telomeres. In this paper, we review the relationships that link environmental conditions, glucocorticoids (GC, the main hormonal mediator of allostasis) and telomere length in vertebrates. First, we review current knowledge about the determinants of inter-individual variations in telomere length. We emphasize the potential strong impact of environmental stressors and predictable life-history events on telomere dynamics. Despite recent progress, we still lack crucial basic data to fully understand the costs of several life-history stages and biotic and abiotic factors on telomere length. Second, we review the link that exists between GCs, oxidative stress and telomere dynamics in vertebrates. Although circulating GC levels may be closely and functionally linked with telomere dynamics, data are still scarce and somewhat contradictory. Further laboratory and field studies are therefore needed not only to better assess the proximate link between GC levels and telomere dynamics, but also to ultimately understand to what extent GCs and telomere length could be informative to measure the fitness costs of specific life-history stages and environmental conditions. Finally, we highlight the importance of exploring the functional links that may exist between coping styles, the GC stress response, and telomere dynamics in a life-history framework. To conclude, we raise new hypotheses regarding the potential of the GC stress response to drive the trade-off between immediate survival and telomere protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frédéric Angelier
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, CNRS-ULR, UMR 7372, Villiers en Bois, France.
| | - David Costantini
- Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, UMR 7221, Paris, France; Behavioural Ecology & Ecophysiology Group, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Pierre Blévin
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, CNRS-ULR, UMR 7372, Villiers en Bois, France
| | - Olivier Chastel
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, CNRS-ULR, UMR 7372, Villiers en Bois, France
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Cooke SJ, Hultine KR, Rummer JL, Franklin CE. Reflections and progress in conservation physiology. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2017; 5:cow071. [PMID: 28070332 PMCID: PMC5215126 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/cow071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2016] [Accepted: 11/29/2016] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Steven J. Cooke
- Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biology and Institute of Environmental Science, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON,CanadaK1S 5B6
- Corresponding author:Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biology and Institute of Environmental Science, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON, CanadaK1S 5B6. Tel: +1 613 867 6711.
| | - Kevin R. Hultine
- Department of Research, Conservation and Collections, Desert Botanical Garden, 1201 North Galvin Parkway, Phoenix, AZ 85008, USA
| | - Jodie L. Rummer
- ARC Centre for Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Craig E. Franklin
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
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