title: Rank in a food competition test and humoral immune functions in male Brandt's voles (Lasiopodomys brandtii).
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: 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.
authors.forename: Feng-Hua
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Wen-Qin
authors.initials: WQ
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.forename: Zuoxin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: De-Hua
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D006854:Hydrocortisone