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Romero-Haro AA, Cantarero A, Alonso-Alvarez C. Early Oxidative Stress May Prevent a Red Ornament From Signaling Longevity. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY. PART A, ECOLOGICAL AND INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY 2024. [PMID: 39318264 DOI: 10.1002/jez.2868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2024] [Revised: 09/02/2024] [Accepted: 09/04/2024] [Indexed: 09/26/2024]
Abstract
Harsh early environmental conditions can exert delayed, long-lasting effects on phenotypes, including reproductive traits such as sexual signals. Indeed, adverse early conditions can accelerate development, increasing oxidative stress that may, in turn, impact adult sexual signals. Among signals, colorations produced by red ketocarotenoids seem to depend on mitochondrial functioning. Hence, they could reveal individual cell respiration efficiency. It has been hypothesized that these traits are unfalsifiable "index" signals of condition due to their deep connection to individual metabolism. Since mitochondrial dysfunction is frequently linked to aging, red ketocarotenoid-based ornaments could also be good signals of a critical fitness component: longevity. We tested this red color per longevity correlation in captive zebra finches. In addition, we experimentally decreased the synthesis of glutathione (a critical intracellular antioxidant) during the first days of the birds' life to resemble harsh early environmental conditions (e.g., undernutrition). Longevity was recorded until the death of the last bird (almost 9 years). Males, but not females, exhibiting a redder bill in early adulthood lived longer than males with paler bills, which agrees with some precedent studies. However, such bill redness-longevity connection was absent among males with inhibited glutathione synthesis. These findings may suggest that environmental factors can alter the reliability of red ketocarotenoid-based sexual signals, making them less unfalsifiable than believed.
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Affiliation(s)
- A A Romero-Haro
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC-CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - A Cantarero
- Department of Physiology, Veterinary School, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - C Alonso-Alvarez
- Evolutionary Ecology Department, National Museum of Natural Sciences-The Spanish National Research Council (MNCN-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
- Instituto Pirenaico de Ecología (IPE-CSIC), Jaca, Huesca, Spain
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2
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Birch G, Meniri M, Cant MA, Blount JD. Defence against the intergenerational cost of reproduction in males: oxidative shielding of the germline. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2024; 99:70-84. [PMID: 37698166 DOI: 10.1111/brv.13012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Revised: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023]
Abstract
Reproduction is expected to carry an oxidative cost, yet in many species breeders appear to sustain lower levels of oxidative damage compared to non-breeders. This paradox may be explained by considering the intergenerational costs of reproduction. Specifically, a reduction in oxidative damage upon transitioning to a reproductive state may represent a pre-emptive shielding strategy to protect the next generation from intergenerational oxidative damage (IOD) - known as the oxidative shielding hypothesis. Males may be particularly likely to transmit IOD, because sperm are highly susceptible to oxidative damage. Yet, the possibility of male-mediated IOD remains largely uninvestigated. Here, we present a conceptual and methodological framework to assess intergenerational costs of reproduction and oxidative shielding of the germline in males. We discuss variance in reproductive costs and expected payoffs of oxidative shielding according to species' life histories, and the expected impact on offspring fitness. Oxidative shielding presents an opportunity to incorporate intergenerational effects into the advancing field of life-history evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Graham Birch
- Centre for Ecology & Conservation, Faculty of Environment, Science & Economy, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Cornwall, TR10 9FE, UK
| | - Magali Meniri
- Centre for Ecology & Conservation, Faculty of Environment, Science & Economy, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Cornwall, TR10 9FE, UK
| | - Michael A Cant
- Centre for Ecology & Conservation, Faculty of Environment, Science & Economy, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Cornwall, TR10 9FE, UK
| | - Jonathan D Blount
- Centre for Ecology & Conservation, Faculty of Environment, Science & Economy, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Cornwall, TR10 9FE, UK
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Romero-Haro AA, Figuerola J, Alonso-Alvarez C. Low Antioxidant Glutathione Levels Lead to Longer Telomeres: A Sex-Specific Link to Longevity? Integr Org Biol 2023; 5:obad034. [PMID: 37753451 PMCID: PMC10519275 DOI: 10.1093/iob/obad034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Telomeres are repetitive DNA sequences at the end of chromosomes that protect them from degradation. They have been the focus of intense research because short telomeres would predict accelerated ageing and reduced longevity in vertebrates. Oxidative stress is considered a physiological driver of the telomere shortening and, consequently, short lifespan. Among molecules fighting against oxidative stress, glutathione is involved in many antioxidant pathways. Literature supports that oxidative stress may trigger a compensatory "hormetic" response increasing glutathione levels and telomere length. Here, we tested the link between total glutathione concentration and telomere length in captive birds (zebra finches; Taeniopygia guttata). Total glutathione levels were experimentally decreased during birds' growth using a specific inhibitor of glutathione synthesis (buthionine sulfoximine; BSO). We monitored the birds' reproductive performance in an outdoor aviary during the first month of life, and their longevity for almost 9 years. Among control individuals, erythrocyte glutathione levels during development positively predicted erythrocyte telomere length in adulthood. However, BSO-treated females, but not males, showed longer telomeres than control females in adulthood. This counterintuitive finding suggests that females mounted a compensatory response. Such compensation agrees with precedent findings in the same population where the BSO treatment increased growth and adult body mass in females but not males. BSO did not influence longevity or reproductive output in any sex. However, early glutathione levels and adult telomere length interactively predicted longevity only among control females. Those females with "naturally" low (non-manipulated) glutathione levels at the nestling age but capable of producing longer telomeres in adulthood seem to live longer. The results suggest that the capability to mount a hormetic response triggered by low early glutathione levels can improve fitness via telomere length. Overall, the results may indicate a sex-specific link between glutathione and telomere values. Telomerase activity and sexual steroids (estrogens) are good candidates to explain the sex-biased mechanism underlying the early-life impact of oxidative stress on adult telomere length.
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Affiliation(s)
- A A Romero-Haro
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC), CSIC-UCLM-JCCM, Ronda de Toledo 12, 13071Ciudad Real, 41092 Sevilla, Spain
| | - J Figuerola
- Estación Biológica de Doñana—CSIC, Sevilla, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - C Alonso-Alvarez
- Evolutionary Ecology Department, National Museum of Natural Sciences (MNCN-CSIC), C/José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain
- Instituto Pirenaico de Ecología (IPE-CSIC) Avda. Nuestra Señora de la Victoria, 16. 22700 Jaca, Huesca, Spain
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Jacobs PJ, Hart DW, Suess T, Janse van Vuuren AK, Bennett NC. The Cost of Reproduction in a Cooperatively Breeding Mammal: Consequences of Seasonal Variation in Rainfall, Reproduction, and Reproductive Suppression. Front Physiol 2021; 12:780490. [PMID: 34867486 PMCID: PMC8640211 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.780490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Biological investments, such as reproduction, are influenced by both biotic and abiotic factors and their interactions. The trade-off between reproduction and survival has been well established. Seasonally breeding species, therefore, may exhibit variations in these trade-offs, but there is a dearth of knowledge concerning this. This study investigated the physiological cost of reproduction (measured through oxidative stress) across seasons in the cooperatively breeding highveld mole-rat (Cryptomys hottentotus pretoriae), one of the few seasonal breeding mole-rats. Oxidative stress indicates elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, which can overwhelm antioxidant defences resulting in damaged proteins, lipids and DNA, which overall can reduce longevity and compromise reproduction. Oxidative markers such as total oxidant status (TOS-measure of total peroxides present), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), oxidative stress index (OSI), and malondialdehyde (MDA) are utilised to measure oxidative stress. In this study, breeding and non-breeding male (NBM) and female mole-rats were captured during the dry season (breeding period) and wet season (non-breeding period). There was an apparent cost of reproduction in the highveld mole-rat; however, the seasonality pattern to the cost of reproduction varied between the sexes. Breeding females (BFs) had significantly higher MDA during the breeding period/dry season in comparison to the non-breeding period/wet season; this is possibly a consequence of bearing and nursing offspring. Contrastingly, breeding males (BMs) showed increased oxidative damage in the non-breeding/wet season compared to the breeding/dry season, possibly due to increased activities of protecting their mating rights for the next breeding/dry season, but this was not significant. Interestingly, during the non-breeding period/wet season, non-breeding females (NBFs) are released from their reproductive suppression, which resulted in increases in TOS and OSI, which again indicated that just the mere ability to be able to breed results in a cost (oxidative stress). Therefore we can speculate that highveld mole-rats exhibited seasonal variation in redox balance brought about by variation in abiotic variables (e.g., rainfall), physiology and behaviour. We conclude that physiological changes associated with reproduction are sufficient to induce significant acute oxidative stress in the plasma of female highveld mole-rats, which become alleviated following transition to the non-breeding season/wet period suggesting a possible hormetic effect.
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Tapper S, Nocera JJ, Burness G. Body temperature is a repeatable trait in a free-ranging passerine bird. J Exp Biol 2021; 224:272129. [PMID: 34498672 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.243057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Body temperature (Tb) affects animal function through its influence on rates of biochemical and biophysical reactions, the molecular structures of proteins and tissues, and, ultimately, organismal performance. Despite its importance in driving physiological processes, there are few data on how much variation in Tb exists within populations of organisms, and whether this variation consistently differs among individuals over time (i.e. repeatability of a trait). Here, using thermal radio-frequency identification implants, we quantified the repeatability of Tb, both in the context of a fixed average environment (∼21°C) and across ambient temperatures (6-31°C), in a free-living population of tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor, n=16). By experimentally trimming the ventral plumage of a subset of female swallows (n=8), we also asked whether the repeatability of Tb is influenced by the capacity to dissipate body heat. We found that both female and male tree swallow Tb was repeatable at 21°C (R=0.89-92), but female Tb was less repeatable than male Tb across ambient temperature (Rfemale=0.10, Rmale=0.58), which may be due to differences in parental investment. Trimmed birds had on average lower Tb than control birds (by ∼0.5°C), but the repeatability of female Tb did not differ as a function of heat dissipation capacity. This suggests that trimmed individuals adjusted their Tb to account for the effects of heat loss on Tb. Our study provides a first critical step toward understanding whether Tb is responsive to natural selection, and for predicting how animal populations will respond to climatic warming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Tapper
- Environmental and Life Sciences Graduate Department, Trent University, 1600 West Bank Drive, Peterborough, ON, Canada, K9L 0G2
| | - Joseph J Nocera
- Faculty of Forestry and Environmental Management, University of New Brunswick, 28 Dineen Drive, Fredericton, NB, Canada, E3B 5A3
| | - Gary Burness
- Department of Biology, Trent University, 1600 West Bank Drive, Peterborough, ON, Canada, K9L 0G2
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Pintus E, Ros-Santaella JL. Impact of Oxidative Stress on Male Reproduction in Domestic and Wild Animals. Antioxidants (Basel) 2021; 10:antiox10071154. [PMID: 34356386 PMCID: PMC8301082 DOI: 10.3390/antiox10071154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Revised: 06/27/2021] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Oxidative stress occurs when the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) overcome the antioxidant defenses of the organism, jeopardizing several biological functions, including reproduction. In the male reproductive system, oxidative stress not only impairs sperm fertility but also compromises offspring health and survival, inducing oxidative damage to lipids, proteins and nucleic acids. Although a clear link between oxidative stress and male fertility disorders has been demonstrated in humans and laboratory rodents, little information is available about the implications of impaired redox homeostasis in the male fertility of domestic and wild animals. Therefore, this review aims to provide an update regarding the intrinsic and extrinsic factors that are associated with oxidative stress in the male reproductive system and their impact on the reproductive performance of domestic and wild animals. The most recent strategies for palliating the detrimental effects of oxidative stress on male fertility are reviewed together with their potential economic and ecological implications in the livestock industry and biodiversity conservation.
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Romero-Haro AA, Alonso-Alvarez C. Oxidative Stress Experienced during Early Development Influences the Offspring Phenotype. Am Nat 2020; 196:704-716. [PMID: 33211561 DOI: 10.1086/711399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
AbstractOxidative stress (OS) experienced early in life can affect an individual's phenotype. However, its consequences for the next generation remain largely unexplored. We manipulated the OS level endured by zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata) during their development by transitorily inhibiting the synthesis of the key antioxidant glutathione ("early-high-OS"). The offspring of these birds and control parents were cross fostered at hatching to enlarge or reduce its brood size. Independent of parents' early-life OS levels, the chicks raised in enlarged broods showed lower erythrocyte glutathione levels, revealing glutathione sensitivity to environmental conditions. Control biological mothers produced females, not males, that attained a higher body mass when raised in a benign environment (i.e., the reduced brood). In contrast, biological mothers exposed to early-life OS produced heavier males, not females, when allocated in reduced broods. Early-life OS also affected the parental rearing capacity because 12-day-old nestlings raised by a foster pair with both early-high-OS members grew shorter legs (tarsus) than chicks from other groups. The results indicate that environmental conditions during development can affect early glutathione levels, which may in turn influence the next generation through both pre- and postnatal parental effects. The results also demonstrate that early-life OS can constrain the offspring phenotype.
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Goodchild CG, DuRant SE. Fluorescent Heme Degradation Products Are Biomarkers of Oxidative Stress and Linked to Impaired Membrane Integrity in Avian Red Blood Cells. Physiol Biochem Zool 2020; 93:129-139. [PMID: 32027232 DOI: 10.1086/707920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Oxidative stress is generally understood to be an important mediator of life-history traits, yet the specific relationships between oxidative stress and life-history traits have been difficult to describe because there is often a lack of covariation among biomarkers of oxidative stress. For instance, although oxidative damage to red blood cell (RBC) membranes can lead to pathological conditions (i.e., anemia), in some cases there is not a clear relationship between lipid oxidation and RBC membrane resistance to pro-oxidants. Alternatively, oxidative damage to hemoglobin may be an indirect mechanism contributing to RBC membrane damage. To better understand the mechanisms contributing to oxidative damage and probe new approaches to measuring oxidative stress, we used a series of in vitro and in vivo procedures in zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata) to explore (1) whether avian RBCs exposed to a pro-oxidant generate fluorescent heme degradation products (HDPs), (2) whether HDPs interact with RBC membranes, and (3) whether HDPs are linked to impaired RBC integrity. We found that finch RBCs exposed in vitro to hydrogen peroxide produced fluorescent HDPs and HDPs associated with RBC membranes. Exposure to hydrogen peroxide also caused a reduction in hemoglobin and an increase in percent methemoglobin (a hemoglobin oxidation product), further indicating hemoglobin degradation. Moreover, HDP fluorescence correlated with impaired membrane integrity and erythrocyte osmotic fragility in vivo. This study suggests that reactive oxygen species may indirectly impair RBC membrane integrity via hemoglobin degradation products that associate with RBC membranes and that HDPs may be an inexpensive and logistically simple tool for measuring oxidative stress.
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Prokić MD, Gavrić JP, Petrović TG, Despotović SG, Gavrilović BR, Radovanović TB, Krizmanić II, Pavlović SZ. Oxidative stress in Pelophylax esculentus complex frogs in the wild during transition from aquatic to terrestrial life. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2019; 234:98-105. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2019.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2019] [Revised: 05/06/2019] [Accepted: 05/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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Costantini D. Understanding diversity in oxidative status and oxidative stress: the opportunities and challenges ahead. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019; 222:222/13/jeb194688. [PMID: 31266782 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.194688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Oxidative stress may be of profound biological relevance. In this Commentary, I discuss some key issues faced by the emerging field of oxidative stress ecology, and seek to provide interpretations and solutions. First, I show that the way in which we define oxidative stress has far-reaching implications for the interpretation of results, and that we need to distinguish between (1) a biochemical definition in terms of the molecular outcomes of oxidative stress (e.g. generation of oxidative damage) and (2) a biological definition in terms of the fitness consequences for the organism (e.g. effects on fertility). Second, I discuss the dangers of comparing different tissues and markers. Third, I highlight the need to pay more attention to the cross-talk between oxidative stress and other important physiological costs and functions; this will allow us to better understand the mechanistic basis of fitness costs. Fourth, I propose the 'redox signalling hypothesis' of life history to complement the current 'oxidative stress hypothesis' of life history. The latter states that oxidative damage underlies trade-offs because it affects traits like growth, reproduction or cell senescence. By contrast, the redox signalling hypothesis states that a trade-off between signalling and biochemical oxidative stress underlies the regulation of reactive oxygen species production and their subsequent control. Finally, I critically appraise our current knowledge of oxidative stress ecology, highlighting key research themes and providing an optimistic overview of future opportunities for the discipline to yield considerable insight into the ecological and evolutionary meaning of oxidative stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Costantini
- UMR 7221 CNRS/MNHN, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Sorbonne Universités, 7 rue Cuvier, 75005 Paris, France
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Alonso-Alvarez C, García-de Blas E, Mateo R. Dietary canthaxanthin reduces xanthophyll uptake and red coloration in adult red-legged partridges. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018; 221:jeb.185074. [PMID: 30224370 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.185074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2018] [Accepted: 09/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Carotenoids give color to conspicuous animal signals that are often the product of sexual selection. Knowledge of the mechanisms involved in carotenoid-based signaling is critical to understanding how these traits evolve. However, these mechanisms remain only partially understood. Carotenoids are usually viewed as scarce dietary antioxidants whose allocation to ornaments may trade off against health. This trade-off would ensure its reliability as a signal of individual quality. In the case of red (keto)carotenoids, the literature suggests that some species may show constraints in their uptake. Canthaxanthin is one of the most common ketocarotenoids in red ornaments of animals. It is often commercially used as a dietary supplement to obtain redder birds (e.g. poultry). We increased the dietary canthaxanthin levels in captive red-legged partridges (Alectoris rufa). This species shows red non-feathered parts mostly pigmented by another common ketocarotenoid: astaxanthin. We studied the impact on the uptake of carotenoids and vitamins and, finally, on coloration. We also tested the potential protective effect of canthaxanthin when exposing birds to a free radical generator (diquat). Canthaxanthin did not apparently protect birds from oxidative stress, but interfered with the absorption of yellow carotenoids (lutein and zeaxanthin). Zeaxanthin is a precursor of astaxanthin in enzymatic pathways, and their levels in tissues and eggs were lower in canthaxanthin-supplied birds. This led to lower astaxanthin levels in ornaments and paler coloration. As far as we know, this is the first report of a carotenoid supplementation decreasing animal coloration. The results have implications for understanding carotenoid-based signaling evolution, but also for improving husbandry/experimental procedures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Alonso-Alvarez
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales - CSIC, Dpto Ecología Evolutiva, C/ José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - Esther García-de Blas
- Wildlife Toxicology Group, Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC, UCLM, CSIC), Ronda de Toledo sn, 13007 Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Rafael Mateo
- Wildlife Toxicology Group, Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC, UCLM, CSIC), Ronda de Toledo sn, 13007 Ciudad Real, Spain
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Simmons LW, Lovegrove M, Lymbery SJ. Dietary antioxidants, but not courtship effort, affect oxidative balance in the testes and muscles of crickets. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018; 221:jeb.184770. [PMID: 30190320 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.184770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2018] [Accepted: 08/30/2018] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Recent interest has focused on the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) as universal constraints in life-history evolution. Empirical studies have examined the oxidative costs of reproduction for females, with little work conducted on males. The male germline is thought to be particularly susceptible to oxidative damage because the testes, and the sperm themselves, can be prolific producers of ROS. We tested the hypothesis that protection of the male germline from oxidative damage represents a cost of reproduction for males. We fed male crickets, Teleogryllus oceanicus, with one of two experimental diets in which we manipulated the availability of dietary antioxidants, and we induced variation in their expenditure on courtship effort by manipulating access to females. We measured the total antioxidant capacity, levels of ROS production and the amount of oxidative damage to proteins in both testis and thoracic muscle tissues. Dietary antioxidants contributed to positive oxidative balance in both tissue types. Although the testes had greater antioxidant defences than muscle tissue, they also produced considerably higher levels of ROS and sustained higher levels of oxidative damage. Courtship effort had no impact on any measure of oxidative balance. Our data confirm that the male germline is especially susceptible to oxidative stress and that dietary antioxidants can alleviate this oxidative cost of reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leigh W Simmons
- Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences (M092), The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Maxine Lovegrove
- Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences (M092), The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Samuel J Lymbery
- Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences (M092), The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
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Losdat S, Blount JD, Marri V, Maronde L, Richner H, Helfenstein F. Effects of an early-life paraquat exposure on adult resistance to oxidative stress, plumage colour and sperm performance in a wild bird. J Anim Ecol 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.12822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Sylvain Losdat
- Institute of Biology; University of Neuchâtel; Neuchâtel Switzerland
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution; University of Bern; Bern Switzerland
| | - Jonathan D. Blount
- Centre for Ecology & Conservation; College of Life & Environmental Sciences; University of Exeter; Penryn UK
| | - Viviana Marri
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution; University of Bern; Bern Switzerland
| | - Lea Maronde
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution; University of Bern; Bern Switzerland
| | - Heinz Richner
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution; University of Bern; Bern Switzerland
| | - Fabrice Helfenstein
- Institute of Biology; University of Neuchâtel; Neuchâtel Switzerland
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution; University of Bern; Bern Switzerland
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Costantini D. Meta-analysis reveals that reproductive strategies are associated with sexual differences in oxidative balance across vertebrates. Curr Zool 2018; 64:1-11. [PMID: 29492033 PMCID: PMC5809033 DOI: 10.1093/cz/zox002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2016] [Accepted: 01/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Oxidative stress is a key physiological mechanism underlying life-history tradeoffs. Here, I use meta-analytic techniques to test whether sexual differences in oxidative balance are common in vertebrates and to identify which factors are associated with such differences. The dataset included 732 effect size estimates from 100 articles (82 species). Larger unsigned effect size (meaning larger sexual differences in a given marker) occurred in: reptiles and fish; those species that do not provide parental care; and oviparous species. Estimates of signed effect size (positive values meaning higher oxidative stress in males) indicated that females were less resistant to oxidative stress than males in: reptiles while males and females were similar in fish, birds, and mammals; those species that do not provide parental care; and oviparous species. There was no evidence for a significant sexual differentiation in oxidative balance in fish, birds, and mammals. Effect size was not associated with: the number of offspring; whether the experimental animals were reproducing or not; biomarker (oxidative damage, non-enzymatic, or enzymatic antioxidant), the species body mass; the strain (wild vs. domestic); or the study environment (wild vs. captivity). Oxidative stress tended to be higher in females than males across most of the tissues analyzed. Levels of residual heterogeneity were high in all models tested. The findings of this meta-analysis indicate that diversification of reproductive strategies might be associated with sexual differences in oxidative balance. This explorative meta-analysis offers a starting platform for future research to investigate the relationship between sex and oxidative balance further.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Costantini
- UMR 7221, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, 7 rue Cuvier 75231 Paris Cedex 05, France
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Str. 17, Berlin 10315, Germany
- Behavioural Ecology & Ecophysiology Group, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, Wilrijk 2610, Belgium
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Herrera-Dueñas A, Pineda-Pampliega J, Antonio-García MT, Aguirre JI. The Influence of Urban Environments on Oxidative Stress Balance: A Case Study on the House Sparrow in the Iberian Peninsula. Front Ecol Evol 2017. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2017.00106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
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Cooper-Mullin C, McWilliams SR. The role of the antioxidant system during intense endurance exercise: lessons from migrating birds. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017; 219:3684-3695. [PMID: 27903627 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.123992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
During migration, birds substantially increase their metabolic rate and burn fats as fuel and yet somehow avoid succumbing to overwhelming oxidative damage. The physiological means by which vertebrates such as migrating birds can counteract an increased production of reactive species (RS) are rather limited: they can upregulate their endogenous antioxidant system and/or consume dietary antioxidants (prophylactically or therapeutically). Thus, birds can alter different components of their antioxidant system to respond to the demands of long-duration flights, but much remains to be discovered about the complexities of RS production and antioxidant protection throughout migration. Here, we use bird migration as an example to discuss how RS are produced during endurance exercise and how the complex antioxidant system can protect against cellular damage caused by RS. Understanding how a bird's antioxidant system responds during migration can lend insights into how antioxidants protect birds during other life-history stages when metabolic rate may be high, and how antioxidants protect other vertebrates from oxidative damage during endurance exercise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Cooper-Mullin
- The Department of Natural Resources Science, The University of Rhode Island, 105 Coastal Institute, 1 Greenhouse Road, Kingston, RI 02881, USA
| | - Scott R McWilliams
- The Department of Natural Resources Science, The University of Rhode Island, 105 Coastal Institute, 1 Greenhouse Road, Kingston, RI 02881, USA
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17
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Noguera JC. Interacting effects of early dietary conditions and reproductive effort on the oxidative costs of reproduction. PeerJ 2017; 5:e3094. [PMID: 28316895 PMCID: PMC5354074 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.3094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2016] [Accepted: 02/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The hypothesis that oxidative damage accumulation can mediate the trade-off between reproduction and lifespan has recently been questioned. However, in captive conditions, studies reporting no evidence in support of this hypothesis have usually provided easy access to food which may have mitigated the cost of reproduction. Here, I test the hypothesis that greater investment in reproduction should lead to oxidative damage accumulation and telomere loss in domestic zebra finches Taeniopygia guttata. Moreover, since the change or fluctuation in diet composition between early and late postnatal period can impair the ability to produce antioxidant defences in zebra finches, I also tested if early nutritional conditions (constant vs fluctuating early diet) influenced the magnitude of any subsequent costs of reproduction (e.g., oxidative damage and/or telomere shortening). In comparison to pairs with reduced broods, the birds that had to feed enlarged broods showed a higher level of oxidative DNA damage (8-OHdG), but brood size had no effect on telomeres. Fluctuating early diet composition reduced the capacity to maintain the activity of endogenous antioxidants (GPx), particularly when reproductive costs were increased (enlarged brood). The decline in GPx in birds feeding enlarged broods was accompanied by a change in bill colouration. This suggests that birds with lower endogenous antioxidant defences might have strategically increased the mobilization of antioxidants previously stored in other tissues (i.e., bill and liver) and thus, preventing an excessive accumulation of damage during reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose Carlos Noguera
- Departamento de Ecología y Biología Animal, Universidad de Vigo , Vigo , Galicia , Spain
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18
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Merkling T, Blanchard P, Chastel O, Glauser G, Vallat‐Michel A, Hatch SA, Danchin E, Helfenstein F. Reproductive effort and oxidative stress: effects of offspring sex and number on the physiological state of a long‐lived bird. Funct Ecol 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.12829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Merkling
- Université Toulouse 3 Paul Sabatier CNRS ENFA UMR5174 EDB (Laboratoire Évolution & Diversité Biologique) 118 route de Narbonne F‐31062 Toulouse France
| | - Pierrick Blanchard
- Université Toulouse 3 Paul Sabatier CNRS ENFA UMR5174 EDB (Laboratoire Évolution & Diversité Biologique) 118 route de Narbonne F‐31062 Toulouse France
| | - Olivier Chastel
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC) UMR 7372 – CNRS & Université de la Rochelle 79360 Villiers‐en‐Bois France
| | - Gaëtan Glauser
- Neuchâtel Platform of Analytical Chemistry Institute of Chemistry University of Neuchâtel Avenue de Bellevaux 51 CH‐2000 Neuchâtel Switzerland
| | - Armelle Vallat‐Michel
- Neuchâtel Platform of Analytical Chemistry Institute of Chemistry University of Neuchâtel Avenue de Bellevaux 51 CH‐2000 Neuchâtel Switzerland
| | - Scott A. Hatch
- Institute for Seabird Research and Conservation 12850 Mountain Place Anchorage AK99516 USA
| | - Etienne Danchin
- Université Toulouse 3 Paul Sabatier CNRS ENFA UMR5174 EDB (Laboratoire Évolution & Diversité Biologique) 118 route de Narbonne F‐31062 Toulouse France
| | - Fabrice Helfenstein
- Institute of Biology University of Neuchâtel Rue Emile‐Argand 11 CH‐2000 Neuchâtel Switzerland
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19
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Zhang Y, Hood WR. Current versus future reproduction and longevity: a re-evaluation of predictions and mechanisms. J Exp Biol 2016; 219:3177-3189. [PMID: 27802148 PMCID: PMC5091378 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.132183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Oxidative damage is predicted to be a mediator of trade-offs between current reproduction and future reproduction or survival, but most studies fail to support such predictions. We suggest that two factors underlie the equivocal nature of these findings: (1) investigators typically assume a negative linear relationship between current reproduction and future reproduction or survival, even though this is not consistently shown by empirical studies; and (2) studies often fail to target mechanisms that could link interactions between sequential life-history events. Here, we review common patterns of reproduction, focusing on the relationships between reproductive performance, survival and parity in females. Observations in a range of species show that performance between sequential reproductive events can decline, remain consistent or increase. We describe likely bioenergetic consequences of reproduction that could underlie these changes in fitness, including mechanisms that could be responsible for negative effects being ephemeral, persistent or delayed. Finally, we make recommendations for designing future studies. We encourage investigators to carefully consider additional or alternative measures of bioenergetic function in studies of life-history trade-offs. Such measures include reactive oxygen species production, oxidative repair, mitochondrial biogenesis, cell proliferation, mitochondrial DNA mutation and replication error and, importantly, a measure of the respiratory function to determine whether measured differences in bioenergetic state are associated with a change in the energetic capacity of tissues that could feasibly affect future reproduction or lifespan. More careful consideration of the life-history context and bioenergetic variables will improve our understanding of the mechanisms that underlie the life-history patterns of animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yufeng Zhang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
| | - Wendy R Hood
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
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20
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Romero-Haro AA, Sorci G, Alonso-Alvarez C. The oxidative cost of reproduction depends on early development oxidative stress and sex in a bird species. Proc Biol Sci 2016; 283:20160842. [PMID: 27358368 PMCID: PMC4936042 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2016.0842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2016] [Accepted: 06/08/2016] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In the early 2000s, a new component of the cost of reproduction was proposed: oxidative stress. Since then the oxidative cost of reproduction hypothesis has, however, received mixed support. Different arguments have been provided to explain this. Among them, the lack of a life-history perspective on most experimental tests was suggested. We manipulated the levels of a key intracellular antioxidant (glutathione) in captive zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata) during a short period of early life and subsequently tested the oxidative cost of reproduction. Birds were allowed to mate freely in an outdoor aviary for several months. We repeatedly enlarged or reduced their broods to increase or reduce, respectively, breeding effort. Birds whose glutathione levels were reduced during growth showed higher erythrocyte resistance to free radical-induced haemolysis when forced to rear enlarged broods. This supports the hypothesis predicting the occurrence of developing programmes matching early and adult environmental conditions to improve fitness. Moreover, adult males rearing enlarged broods endured higher plasma levels of lipid oxidative damage than control males, whereas adult females showed the opposite trend. As most previous studies reporting non-significant or opposite results used females only, we also discuss some sex-related particularities that may contribute to explain unexpected results.
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Affiliation(s)
- A A Romero-Haro
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC, UCLM, CSIC), Ronda de Toledo sn, 13007 Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - G Sorci
- Biogéosciences, Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 6, Boulevard Gabriel, 21000 Dijon, France
| | - C Alonso-Alvarez
- Dpto. Ecología Evolutiva, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales-CSIC, C/ José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain
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