Biology of stress: interactions with reproduction, immunology and intermediary metabolism

Abstract

Animals must maintain a steady physiological state, homeostasis, in response to a changing environment. An understanding of the stress response is essential if one is to appreciate the complex physiological mechanisms maintaining homeostasis in vertebrates. Moreover, a comprehensive understanding of the biology of stress is essential if we are to reduce stress in the care of any vertebrate species, induding those that are not domesticated and traditional laboratory animals.The goals of this chapter are to review our knowledge of the phenomenon of the physiological stress response in vertebrates generally, and then to describe in detail the limited information available on the biology of stress in reptiles. We shall not deal with psychic or emotional considerations of stress in reptiles. Specifically, we focus on the interactions between the physiological stress response and reproduction, immune function and intermediary metabolism. These three areas are critical to any husbandry and captive management programme. If not prevented or countermanded, the detrimental aspects of the stress response mounted by, for example,

Shelter availability, stress level, and digestive performances in the aspic viper

“…We assessed the consequences on three major traits: thermoregulation, digestive performance and plasma corticoid levels (Möstl and Palme, 2002;Bassett and Buchanan-Smith, 2007). We measured corticoid hormones because they influence the process of acquisition and allocation of resources, the mobilization of body reserves, metabolism and various behaviors (DeNardo and Sinervo, 1994;Guillette et al, 1995;Romero, 2004).…”

How much stress do researchers inflict on their study animals? A case study using a scincid lizard, Eulamprus heatwolei

“…High levels of stress to the organisms can raise two major problems. First, it can introduce confounding factors that will obscure any clear-cut answer to the research questions being addressed (Belliure et al, 2004;Guillette et al, 1995). Second, inflicting high levels of stress on our study organisms is ethically indefensible (Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour, 2003;Office of Technology Assessment, 1986).…”

Does adrenal responsiveness vary with sex and reproductive status in Egernia whitii, a viviparous skink?

“…Plasma CORT concentrations increased to 52 ng/mL and 59 ng/mL 17 respectively, but plasma CORT also increased in the saline -injected animals, reaching 18 levels of around 30 ng/mL in both sexes, suggesting that the injection induced an acute 19 stress response. (Guillette et al, 1995), and may display a high degree of 1 inter-species variation. 2 3…”