IMBECU   20882
INSTITUTO DE MEDICINA Y BIOLOGIA EXPERIMENTAL DE CUYO
Unidad Ejecutora - UE
artículos
Título:
Corticosterone levels and immunological indices in stressed juvenile broad-snouted caimans (Caiman latirostris).
Autor/es:
PARACHÚ MARCÓ MV; BELDOMENICO PM; MOLEÓN MS; JAHN GA; PIETROBON EO; SIROSKI PA
Revista:
JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY (1987)
Editorial:
WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC
Referencias:
Lugar: Londres; Año: 2018 vol. 304 p. 151 - 158
ISSN:
0952-8369
Resumen:
The stress response is modulated by glucocorticoids (GCs), which activate a cascade of physiological and behavioral responses. Some of the physiological effects triggered by GCs are the mobilization of energy from adipose and hepatic tissues, the shutdown of digestive processes, and immunosuppression. In the wild, crocodilians have to face numerous stressors including climatic factors, toxicant exposure, infection, etc. Stressors can affect the components of the immune system that might be involved in an organism?s survival as they actively participate in resistance and rapid response to infection. We experimentally investigate the effect of exposure to environmental challenges (food restriction, water restriction and high temperature) on growth, immunological investment and corticosterone levels of juvenile C. latirostris. Corticosterone concentrations in plasma, total white blood cells counts, diferential white blood cells counts, body condition, natural antibody and complement system activity were evaluated to characterize the influence of those treatments on the immune system. Animals that were deprived of food hadSnout vent length, weight and body condition significantly lower compared with other treatments. The effect of high temperature appeared to beneficial in several variables measured. Individuals exposed to heat treatment (37±1°C) grew more, had better body condition and higher levels of Nab, also corticosterone levels were significantly lower than in caimans in all other groups. In water restriction treatment, no effect was observed in the physiological parameters evaluated, for which it is likely that the 50% water restriction imposed failed to trigger a stress response. Our findings contribute to our knowledge of the natural history of this species in particular and crocodilians in general.