Rank in a food competition test and humoral immune functions in male Brandt's voles (Lasiopodomys brandtii).
Social status can influence an animal's immune and reproductive functions, eventually leading to alterations in immunocompetence and reproductive success. Here, we report that rank assessed in a food competition test, considered as an index of social status, has significant influences on humoral immune functions in male Brandt's voles (Lasiopodomys brandtii) living in a group. Our data reveal a negative correlation of the spleen mass and serum antibody levels with social status, as well as a positive correlation of serum cortisol levels with social status. Males winning in food competition had a smaller spleen, a lower level of serum antibodies, and a higher level of serum cortisol than did their conspecific counterparts. These data indicate interactions between social status and humoral immune functions and might illustrate a trade-off between infection risks and reproductive success in male Brandt's voles.
Li
Feng-Hua
FH
State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 25 Beisihuan Xilu, Zhongguancun, Haidian, Beijing 100080, China.
Zhong
Wen-Qin
WQ
Wang
Zuoxin
Z
Wang
De-Hua
DH
D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000502:physiology*; D003411:Arvicolinae / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D003163:Competitive Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D004291:Dominance-Subordination; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D012930:Social Dominance; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology
D006854:Hydrocortisone