1. Energetic reserves, leptin and testosterone: a refinement of the immunocompetence handicap hypothesis
- Author
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Sophie Bertrand, Gabriele Sorci, Carlos Alonso-Alvarez, Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC), Parasitologie évolutive (PE), École normale supérieure - Paris (ENS-PSL), Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris 6 (UPMC)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Biogéosciences [UMR 6282] (BGS), Université de Bourgogne (UB)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), supported by the Ramón y Cajal fellowship, École normale supérieure - Paris (ENS Paris), Biogéosciences [UMR 6282] [Dijon] (BGS), Université de Bourgogne (UB)-AgroSup Dijon - Institut National Supérieur des Sciences Agronomiques, de l'Alimentation et de l'Environnement-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (España), Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos ( IREC ), UCLM-JCCM, Parasitologie évolutive ( PE ), École normale supérieure - Paris ( ENS Paris ) -Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris 6 ( UPMC ) -Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique ( CNRS ), Biogéosciences [Dijon] ( BGS ), Université de Bourgogne ( UB ) -AgroSup Dijon - Institut National Supérieur des Sciences Agronomiques, de l'Alimentation et de l'Environnement-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique ( CNRS ), École normale supérieure - Paris (ENS Paris)-Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris 6 (UPMC)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), and Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université de Bourgogne (UB)-AgroSup Dijon - Institut National Supérieur des Sciences Agronomiques, de l'Alimentation et de l'Environnement
- Subjects
0106 biological sciences ,Leptin ,Male ,medicine.medical_treatment ,MESH : Analysis of Variance ,01 natural sciences ,Immunocompetence handicap hypothesis ,[ SDV.BBM.BC ] Life Sciences [q-bio]/Biochemistry, Molecular Biology/Biomolecules [q-bio.BM] ,immunocompetence handicap hypothesis ,[ SDV.IMM ] Life Sciences [q-bio]/Immunology ,MESH: Animals ,Testosterone ,MESH : Finches ,0303 health sciences ,Sex Characteristics ,MESH : Immune Tolerance ,Immunosuppression ,Agricultural and Biological Sciences (miscellaneous) ,Lipids ,3. Good health ,[SDV.BBM.BC]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Biochemistry, Molecular Biology/Biomolecules [q-bio.BM] ,MESH : Leptin ,[SDV.IMM]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Immunology ,MESH: Finches ,Immunocompetence ,General Agricultural and Biological Sciences ,Sex characteristics ,MESH: Sex Characteristics ,Research Article ,medicine.medical_specialty ,MESH: Immune Tolerance ,MESH : Male ,MESH: Testosterone ,Biology ,010603 evolutionary biology ,03 medical and health sciences ,Immune system ,Internal medicine ,MESH: Analysis of Variance ,medicine ,Immune Tolerance ,Animals ,[SDV.BBM.BC]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Biochemistry, Molecular Biology/Biochemistry [q-bio.BM] ,030304 developmental biology ,Analysis of Variance ,MESH : Sex Characteristics ,MESH : Testosterone ,MESH : Lipids ,MESH: Leptin ,biology.organism_classification ,MESH: Lipids ,MESH: Male ,Endocrinology ,MESH : Animals ,Finches ,Taeniopygia ,Hormone - Abstract
Electronic supplementary material is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2007.0020 or via http://www.journals.royalsoc.ac.uk., The immunocompetence handicap hypothesis (ICHH) assumes that testosterone (T), required for the expression of sexual traits, can also incur a cost due to its immunosuppressive properties. However, T-dependent immunosuppression could also arise as an indirect consequence of energy reallocation from the immune system to other metabolic demands. Leptin is mostly produced in lipogenic tissues and its circulating level is positively correlated with the amount of lipid reserves. Leptin also has an important role as immunoenhancer and we suggest that this hormone could play a role as a mediator of the immunosuppressive effect of testosterone. In particular, we propose that only the individuals able to maintain large lipid reserves (with high leptin levels), while sustaining high testosterone levels, might be able to develop sexual displays without an impairment of their immune defences. Here, we tested one of the assumptions underlying this extension of the ICHH: leptin administration should attenuate testosterone-induced immunosuppression. T-implanted and control male zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata) received daily injections of leptin or phosphate buffered saline. T-implants initially depressed the phytohaemagglutinin-induced immune response. However, T-birds injected with leptin enhanced their immune response to the level of control birds. These results open a new perspective on the study of the ICHH., C.A.-A. was supported by the Ramón y Cajal fellowship (Spain).
- Published
- 2007