Ontogeny and Individual Variation in the Adrenocortical Response of Zebra Finch (<i>Taeniopygia guttata</i>) Nestlings

Wada, Haruka; Salvante, Katrina G.; Wagner, Emily; Williams, Tony; Breuner, Creagh W.

doi:10.1086/599320

Cited by 49 publications

(42 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…In captive chicks there was an increasing trend in feather CORT concentrations as chicks approached fledging age. An increase in the adrenocortical function towards the end of development has been observed across avian species and is largely attributed to an upregulation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis in anticipation of coping with the initial stress of being independent (Corbel and Groscolas, 2008;Kozlowski et al, 2010;Wada et al, 2009;Rivers et al, 2012). While the observed increase in feather CORT concentrations over time may be due to ontogenetic processes, we cannot discount the possibility that captive chicks may have become mildly nutritionally stressed near the end of their development.…”

Section: Research Articlementioning

confidence: 82%

Feather corticosterone reveals developmental stress in seabirds

Will

Suzuki

Elliott

et al. 2014

Journal of Experimental Biology

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In nest-bound avian offspring, food shortages typically trigger a release of the stress hormone corticosterone (CORT). Recent studies indicate that CORT is passively deposited in the tissue of growing feathers and thus may provide an integrated measure of stress incurred during development in the nest. The current hypothesis predicts that, assuming a constant rate of feather growth, elevated CORT circulating in the blood corresponds to higher levels of CORT in feather tissue, but experimental evidence for nutritionally stressed chicks is lacking. Here, we examined how food limitation affects feather CORT content in the rhinoceros auklet (Cerorhinca moncerata). We (i) used captive chicks reared on control versus restricted diets, and (ii) applied this technique to free-living chicks with unknown nutritional histories that fledged at three separate colonies. We found that (i) feather growth was not affected by experimentally induced nutritional stress; (ii) captive chicks raised on a restricted diet had higher levels of CORT in their primary feathers; (iii) feather CORT deposition is a sensitive method of detecting nutritional stress; and (iv) free-living fledglings from the colony with poor reproductive performance had higher CORT in their primary feathers. We conclude that feather CORT is a sensitive integrated measure revealing the temporal dynamics of food limitations experienced by rhinoceros auklet nestlings. The use of feather CORT may be a powerful endocrine tool in ecological and evolutionary studies of bird species with similar preferential allocation of limited resources to feather development.

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Section: Research Articlementioning

confidence: 82%

Feather corticosterone reveals developmental stress in seabirds

Will

Suzuki

Elliott

et al. 2014

Journal of Experimental Biology

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“…We therefore used minimum detectable level of 30 pg when analysing the feather CORT. The allocation of minimum detectable values to samples which fall off the standard curve is a standard practice (Gwinner et al 1994;Buchanan et al 2001;Wada et al 2009), although the exact method by which the value is assigned varies between labs. This meant that although we were confident of the relative ranking of the samples, we were not confident of their actual feather CORT concentration.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Why fly the extra mile? Using stress biomarkers to assess wintering habitat quality in migratory shorebirds

et al. 2016

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Migratory birds make decisions about how far to travel based on cost-benefit trade-offs. However, in many cases the net effect of these trade-offs is unclear. We sought to address this question by measuring feather corticosterone (CORTf), leucocyte profile, avian malaria parasite prevalence and estimating fueling rates in three spatially segregated wintering populations of the migratory shorebird ruddy turnstone Arenaria interpres during their stay in the winter habitat. These birds fly from the high-Arctic breeding ground to Australia, but differ in that some decide to end their migration early (Broome, Western Australia), whereas others travel further to either South Australia or Tasmania. We hypothesized that the extra costs in birds migrating greater distances and overwintering in colder climates would be offset by benefits when reaching their destination. This would be evidenced by lower stress biomarkers in populations that travel further, owing to the expected benefits of greater resources and improved vitality. We show that avian malaria prevalence and physiological stress levels were lower in birds flying to South Australia and Tasmania than those overwintering in Broome. Furthermore, our modeling predicts that birds in the southernmost locations enjoy higher fueling rates. Our data are consistent with the interpretation that birds occupying more costly wintering locations in terms of higher migratory flight and thermoregulatory costs are compensated by better feeding conditions and lower blood parasite infections, which facilitates timely and speedy migration back to the breeding ground. These data contribute to our understanding of cost-benefit trade-offs in the decision making underlying migratory behaviour.

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“…In the first 1-2 wk of life, mice (89), zebra finches (M. D. Taves and K. K. Soma, unpublished data, and Ref. 113), and other altricial species undergo a period of minimal adrenal glucocorticoid production (the stress-hyporesponsive period), which results in low circulating levels. A stress-hyporesponsive period occurs in humans (also altricial) (33).…”

Section: Regulationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Extra-adrenal glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids: evidence for local synthesis, regulation, and function

Taves

Gómez-Sánchez

Soma

2011

American Journal of Physiology-Endocrinology and Metabolism

250

189

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Taves MD, Gomez-Sanchez CE, Soma KK. Extra-adrenal glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids: evidence for local synthesis, regulation, and function. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 301: E11-E24, 2011. First published May 3, 2011; doi:10.1152/ajpendo.00100.2011.-Glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids are steroid hormones classically thought to be secreted exclusively by the adrenal glands. However, recent evidence has shown that corticosteroids can also be locally synthesized in various other tissues, including primary lymphoid organs, intestine, skin, brain, and possibly heart. Evidence for local synthesis includes detection of steroidogenic enzymes and high local corticosteroid levels, even after adrenalectomy. Local synthesis creates high corticosteroid concentrations in extra-adrenal organs, sometimes much higher than circulating concentrations. Interestingly, local corticosteroid synthesis can be regulated via locally expressed mediators of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis or renin-angiotensin system (RAS). In some tissues (e.g., skin), these local control pathways might form miniature analogs of the pathways that regulate adrenal corticosteroid production. Locally synthesized glucocorticoids regulate activation of immune cells, while locally synthesized mineralocorticoids regulate blood volume and pressure. The physiological importance of extra-adrenal glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids has been shown, because inhibition of local synthesis has major effects even in adrenal-intact subjects. In sum, while adrenal secretion of glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids into the blood coordinates multiple organ systems, local synthesis of corticosteroids results in high spatial specificity of steroid action. Taken together, studies of these five major organ systems challenge the conventional understanding of corticosteroid biosynthesis and function.aldosterone; brain; bursa of Fabricius; corticosterone; cortisol; heart; immunosteroids; intestine; neurosteroids; skin; stress; thymus CORTICOSTEROIDS ARE STEROID HORMONES produced in the adrenal cortex and are of two types, glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids. Glucocorticoids, such as corticosterone and cortisol, have numerous effects and can act on nearly all cells in the body. For example, glucocorticoids regulate metabolic activity, immune function, and behavior (84). Circulating glucocorticoid levels increase in response to a variety of stressors under control of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Hypothalamic release of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) triggers pituitary release of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), which stimulates glucocorticoid production by the zona fasciculata of the adrenals. The adrenals can secrete cortisol, corticosterone, or both, depending on the species.Mineralocorticoids, such as aldosterone, promote sodium reabsorption in transporting epithelia of the kidneys, salivary glands, and large intestine. Sodium reabsorption is followed by passive reabsorption of water. Circulating aldosterone concentrations...

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Ontogeny and Individual Variation in the Adrenocortical Response of Zebra Finch (Taeniopygia guttata) Nestlings

Cited by 49 publications

References 39 publications

Feather corticosterone reveals developmental stress in seabirds

Feather corticosterone reveals developmental stress in seabirds

Why fly the extra mile? Using stress biomarkers to assess wintering habitat quality in migratory shorebirds

Extra-adrenal glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids: evidence for local synthesis, regulation, and function

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