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Effects of corticosterone treatment and wound healing on reproductive traits of American bullfrogs.
Prado, Débora M A; Gomes, Fernando R; Madelaire, Carla B.
Affiliation
  • Prado DMA; Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, São Paulo State, Brazil.
  • Gomes FR; Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, São Paulo State, Brazil.
  • Madelaire CB; Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, São Paulo State, Brazil.
J Exp Zool A Ecol Integr Physiol ; 335(2): 275-285, 2021 02.
Article in En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33411410
During reproductive season, calling anuran males display high testosterone (T) and episodically high corticosterone (CORT) plasma levels, which are positively associated with higher calling rates and immunocompetence. However, exposure to constant stress stimuli can result in chronically elevated CORT levels, possibly leading to inhibition of reproductive and immune activity. Reproduction and immune responses are energetically expensive, so when an animal is immunologically challenged, a tradeoff might be expressed, with CORT potentially mediating it. Our aim was to test how episodic and chronic CORT treatments, alongside wound healing, would affect reproduction in American bullfrog males (Lithobates catesbeianus). Forty animals were divided in four groups: Episodic CORT (daily transdermic application of CORT), placebo (daily transdermic application of sesame oil), chronic CORT (subcutaneous CORT silastic implants), and sham control (subcutaneous empty silastic implants). One week after treatments began, animals were punctured in the leg with a biopsy needle and the wound was photographed after 45 days to determine wound healing status (WS). Blood samples were collected throughout the experiment to measure CORT and T plasma levels. After animal euthanasia, testes were dissected, fixed, and analyzed histologically to determine spermatogenic activity (germinative cyst [GmC] morphometrics). As expected, the episodic CORT treatment had no effect on T plasma levels or spermatogenic activity. On the other hand, chronic CORT treatment reduced GmC morphometric traits, indicating suppression of reproduction, although T levels were not altered. In addition, animals from sham control and chronic CORT treatments with higher T levels presented higher WS, which indicates an immune-enhancing T effect.
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Full text: 1 Collection: 01-internacional Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Rana catesbeiana / Sexual Behavior, Animal / Wound Healing / Corticosterone / Anti-Inflammatory Agents Limits: Animals Language: En Journal: J Exp Zool A Ecol Integr Physiol Year: 2021 Document type: Article Affiliation country: Brazil Country of publication: United States

Full text: 1 Collection: 01-internacional Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Rana catesbeiana / Sexual Behavior, Animal / Wound Healing / Corticosterone / Anti-Inflammatory Agents Limits: Animals Language: En Journal: J Exp Zool A Ecol Integr Physiol Year: 2021 Document type: Article Affiliation country: Brazil Country of publication: United States