Yolk testosterone, postnatal growth and song in male canaries

Müller, Wendt; Vergauwen, Jonas; Eens, Marcel

doi:10.1016/j.yhbeh.2008.02.005

Cited by 36 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 59 publications

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“…This is in accordance with our previous results showing accelerated growth in the HET line (Okuliarova et al, 2011a). However, data obtained by experimental injections of exogenous T into eggs showed predominantly no effects on growth in precocial birds (Andersson et al, 2004;Rubolini et al, 2006) and variable effects in altricial birds (Schwabl, 1996;Müller et al, 2008). Thus, although the adaptive significance of growth promoting effects of maternal androgens has been widely discussed (Schwabl, 1996;Groothuis et al, 2005b), recent studies suggest that the data interpretation may be complicated by sex-specific effects of yolk androgens von Engelhardt et al, 2006;Sockman et al, 2008;Pitala et al, 2009), estimating an optimal dose of injected hormone in relation to its endogenous content (Navara et al, 2005;Cucco et al, 2008) and the biological potential of other hormones and substances in the egg (Hegyi and Schwabl, 2010).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Growth and innate immunity are not limited by selection for high egg testosterone content in Japanese quail

Kankova

Zeman

Okuliarova

2012

Journal of Experimental Biology

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SUMMARYThe effects of maternal androgens on fitness-related traits of offspring are generally assumed to be epigenetic adaptations to the environment that may be encountered by the next generation. Possible constraints of high yolk androgen transfer are still not understood, although a suppressed immune response in offspring is frequently considered. The aim of our study was to examine the innate immune defence in high (HET) and low egg testosterone (LET) lines of Japanese quail, which differ in the hormonal milieu of their eggs, thus providing a good physiological model for the study of androgen-mediated maternal effects. Acute phase response was induced by a lipopolysaccharide injection in 12-day-old quail and plasma corticosterone and the heterophil:lymphocyte ratio were measured at 1 and 3h post-treatment. Basal levels of non-specific antibodies (IgY) were determined in the circulation. We found that HET quail were heavier than LET quail from the second week of age, indicating enhanced post-hatching growth. At 1h post-lipopolysaccharide challenge, plasma corticosterone concentrations increased in the HET but not in the LET line. The heterophil:lymphocyte ratio rose in both lines at 3h post-immune challenge, with a more pronounced response in HET quail. Moreover, HET chicks displayed higher IgY levels than LET chicks, suggesting either enhanced passive immunoprotection or stimulated endogenous antibody production. In conclusion, our data demonstrate that the genetic selection for high egg testosterone content positively influences growth and, simultaneously, does not limit the acute phase response in young quail.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Growth and innate immunity are not limited by selection for high egg testosterone content in Japanese quail

Kankova

Zeman

Okuliarova

2012

Journal of Experimental Biology

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“…Soma et al, 2008 for a recent review and Sartor et al 2005 for evidence in canaries). Furthermore, aggression has been shown to be influenced by yolk testosterone, among other in our study species (Eising et al, 2006;Müller et al 2010;Partecke and Schwabl, 2008;Schwabl 1993;Strasser and Schwabl 2004; but see Müller et al, 2008;Ruuskanen and Laaksonen, 2010; Table 2). …”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 53%

Testosterone influences song behaviour and social dominance – But independent of prenatal yolk testosterone exposure

Vergauwen

Groothuis

Eens

et al. 2014

General and Comparative Endocrinology

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a b s t r a c tIn the last two decades, maternally derived yolk androgens have been shown to significantly alter offspring development, and a number of these effects persist into adulthood. However, little is known about their underlying mechanisms. Mechanisms that have been suggested are changes in the endogenous androgen production post-hatching or changes in the sensitivity towards circulating androgens.We tested the effects of yolk testosterone on the plasma testosterone levels and the sensitivity to testosterone in 5 months old male canaries that hatched from eggs that were either injected with testosterone (yT-males) or with a control solution (yC-males). Changes in sensitivity were investigated via the behavioural response to an experimental elevation of the plasma testosterone levels. We performed the experiment in fall (low endogenous testosterone production), focusing on testosterone dependent response traits (aggression and song).Before implantation, there was a non-significant trend that the plasma testosterone levels were lower in yT-males than in yC-males. Elevating the plasma testosterone concentrations increased aggressiveness, song bout length and similarity of repeated song elements (=consistency), with the latter likely being a consequence of testosterone-driven song crystallization. However, these effects were not different among yT-or yC-males in any of the parameters. Thus, our findings render it unlikely that changes in the sensitivity to testosterone post-hatching would form the main underlying mechanism of hormonemediated maternal effects in birds. Further experiments are urgently needed in order to understand the nature of the phenotypic effects resulting from embryonic exposure to maternal yolk testosterone.

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“…In other studies, however, no positive effect of elevated yolk androgens on begging or growth was found (experimental data: Sockman and Schwabl, 2000;Andersson et al, 2004;Pilz et al, 2004;Uller et al, 2005;Saino et al, 2006), or the effect depended on offspring sex (e.g. Saino et al, 2006;Müller et al, 2008;Sockman et al, 2008). The effects of yolk androgens thus seem to vary, but there is evidence that they can affect offspring traits.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 86%

Yolk androgens do not appear to mediate sexual conflict over parental investment in the collared flycatcher Ficedula albicollis

Ruuskanen

Tschirren

Pitala

et al. 2009

Hormones and Behavior

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Yolk androgens do not appear to mediate sexual conflict over parental investment in the collared flycatcher Ficedula albicollis Ruuskanen, Suvi; Doligez, Blandine; Tschirren, Barbara; Pitala, Natalia; Gustafsson, Lars; Groothuis, Ton G. G.; Laaksonen, Toni Take-down policy If you believe that this document breaches copyright please contact us providing details, and we will remove access to the work immediately and investigate your claim.Downloaded from the University of Groningen/UMCG research database (Pure): http://www.rug.nl/research/portal. For technical reasons the number of authors shown on this cover page is limited to 10 maximum. Males and females are in conflict over parental care, as it would be favourable for one parent to shift labour to the other. Yolk hormones may offer a mechanism through which female birds could influence offspring traits in ways that increase the relative investment by the male. We studied the role of yolk androgens in mediating sexual conflict over parental care in the collared flycatcher (Ficedula albicollis). In a cross-fostering experiment, the male's proportion of total feeding visits increased with increasing androgen levels in the foster eggs. This could suggest that sexual conflict over parental care may be influenced by the female's differential allocation of yolk androgens or a maternal effect associated with yolk androgens. However, when we experimentally elevated yolk androgen levels, male feeding rates did not differ between control and androgen-manipulated nests. This suggests that other egg components correlated with yolk androgen levels, rather than yolk androgen levels per se, may influence male parental effort. In conclusion, yolk androgens per se do not appear to mediate sexual conflict over parental investment in the collared flycatcher.

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Yolk testosterone, postnatal growth and song in male canaries

Cited by 36 publications

References 59 publications

Growth and innate immunity are not limited by selection for high egg testosterone content in Japanese quail

Growth and innate immunity are not limited by selection for high egg testosterone content in Japanese quail

Testosterone influences song behaviour and social dominance – But independent of prenatal yolk testosterone exposure

Yolk androgens do not appear to mediate sexual conflict over parental investment in the collared flycatcher Ficedula albicollis

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