Effects of testosterone on cell-mediated and humoral immunity in non-breeding adult European starlings

Duffy, Deborah L.; Bentley, G.; Drazen, Deborah L.; Ball, Gregory F.

doi:10.1093/beheco/11.6.654

Cited by 218 publications

(144 citation statements)

References 80 publications

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“…Therefore, our data suggest that this differential effect of sex is independent of absolute size and is rooted in sex-specific processes, so that only males, the larger sex, pay an extra immunological cost, as previously shown in several studies across a diverse range of species (Fargallo et al 2002;Müller et al 2003;Lobato et al 2008). Since male and female chicks in our study species have similar levels of T (Müller et al 2007;Gil et al 2008), the higher immune susceptibility of the former should arise by differences in hormone metabolism or function (Møller et al 1998;Duffy et al 2000;Moreno et al 2001;Fargallo et al 2002).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 76%

Sex-Specific Effects of High Yolk Androgen Levels on Constitutive and Cell-Mediated Immune Responses in Nestlings of an Altricial Passerine

Muriel

Pérez‐Rodríguez

Ortiz‐Santaliestra

et al. 2017

Physiological and Biochemical Zoology

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Avian embryos are exposed to yolk androgens that are incorporated into the egg by the ovulating female. These steroids can affect several aspects of embryo development, often resulting in increases in overall size or the speed of growth of different traits. However, several studies suggest that they also entail immune costs to the offspring. In this study, we explored whether variation in yolk androgen concentration affected several measures of the constitutive and cell-mediated immune axes in the spotless starling (Sturnus unicolor). Using a within-brood design, we injected different doses of androgens (testosterone and androstenedione) into the eggs. Our study showed that experimentally increased yolk androgens led to sex-specific immunosuppression in both the innate and adaptive axes of the immune system. Both cell-mediated immune response (CMI) and lysozyme activity decreased with increasing androgen levels injected into the egg in the case of male nestlings, whereas there were no effects on females. The effects that we found were always linear: no quadratic or threshold patterns were detected. We found no effects of the experimental treatment in hemolysis or agglutination capacity, but these measures were negatively correlated with CMI, suggesting negative correlation among different branches of the immune system. Blood (trypanosomes and hemosporidians) and intestinal (coccidia) parasites were not affected by the experimental increase of yolk androgen levels. Our results show that in our study species yolk androgens induce immunosuppression in some axes of the male nestling immune system. Further studies should analyze the proximate causes for these contrasting effects in different axes of the immune system and the reason for the differential impact on males and females.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 76%

Sex-Specific Effects of High Yolk Androgen Levels on Constitutive and Cell-Mediated Immune Responses in Nestlings of an Altricial Passerine

Muriel

Pérez‐Rodríguez

Ortiz‐Santaliestra

et al. 2017

Physiological and Biochemical Zoology

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“…Under the assumption that enhanced production of yolk androgens at the same time increases levels of circulating androgens, we expect effects on the female's own physiology, for example an interference with her immune functions (Duffy et al 2000). Although the regulatory roles of androgens in female physiology are not well understood, androgens probably have costs, including immunological, for the female (Ketterson et al 1991).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ectoparasite–modulated deposition of maternal androgens in great tit eggs

Tschirren

Richner

Schwabl

2004

Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B

107

109

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Maternal yolk androgens can promote growth and competitive abilities of nestling birds but are also suggested to increase susceptibility to parasites or suppress immune function. We tested the hypothesis that females exposed to ectoparasites during egg formation will adjust the content of androgens in the yolk. We predicted that when anticipating high levels of parasitism, females deposit (i) less androgens into all eggs of their clutch and (ii) smaller amounts of androgens in eggs late in the laying sequence to facilitate brood reduction.In a field experiment we exposed female great tits (Parus major) to hen fleas (Ceratophyllus gallinae), or kept them free of ectoparasites prior to egg laying. We collected the eggs and measured yolk concentrations of androstenedione (A4), testosterone (T) and 5α-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) by radioimmunoassay. Among clutches, eggs of ectoparasite-exposed females contained significantly less A4 and tended to contain less T, whereas DHT content was unaffected. Within clutches, content of A4 and T increased significantly with laying order whereas DHT content significantly decreased. These patterns were unaffected by ectoparasites.In summary, our results provide no evidence for hormone-based facilitation of brood reduction under ectoparasite exposure but support the hypothesis that females exposed to ectoparasites reduce levels of T and its precursor A4 in yolk and might thereby reduce the negative effects of parasites on offspring.

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“…; Dow Corning) filled for 10 mm with either crystalline T (Sigma; in spring) or empty (in fall). Although T was not assayed in this study, this treatment in castrated male starlings results in testosterone concentrations within the physiological range of breeding males for at least 8 weeks (Duffy, Bentley, Drazen, & Ball, 2000).…”

Section: Animalsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lesions to the medial preoptic nucleus differentially affect singing and nest box-directed behaviors within and outside of the breeding season in European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris).

Alger

Riters

2006

Behavioral Neuroscience

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Little is known about how the brain regulates context appropriate communication. European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) are seasonally-breeding songbirds that produce song in various social contexts. During the breeding season, males that acquire nest sites sing high levels of sexually-motivated song in response to a female. Outside of this context, however, song rates are not affected by female presence. The medial preoptic nucleus (POM) is a region outside of the song control system that regulates male sexual behavior, and several studies in songbirds implicate the POM in sexuallymotivated song. However, recent data suggest that the role of the POM might extend to song produced in other contexts as well. To examine this possibility, effects of bilateral electrolytic lesions of the POM on singing and other behaviors in adult male starlings within sexually relevant and non-sexual contexts in response to various social stimuli were examined. Lesions to the POM exclusively reduced song and nest box-directed behaviors within highly sexually relevant contexts. Unexpectedly, POM lesions increased song in a non-sexual context, suggesting an inhibitory role for the POM in this context. These data suggest that the POM interacts with the song control system so that song occurs in an appropriate social context in response to appropriate stimuli.

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Effects of testosterone on cell-mediated and humoral immunity in non-breeding adult European starlings

Cited by 218 publications

References 80 publications

Sex-Specific Effects of High Yolk Androgen Levels on Constitutive and Cell-Mediated Immune Responses in Nestlings of an Altricial Passerine

Sex-Specific Effects of High Yolk Androgen Levels on Constitutive and Cell-Mediated Immune Responses in Nestlings of an Altricial Passerine

Ectoparasite–modulated deposition of maternal androgens in great tit eggs

Lesions to the medial preoptic nucleus differentially affect singing and nest box-directed behaviors within and outside of the breeding season in European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris).

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