title: 6-MBOA affects testis size, but not delayed-type hypersensitivity, in white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus).
abstract: Many rodents use day length to time reproduction to occur when resources are abundant, but some species also use supplementary environmental cues. One supplementary cue is the plant-derived compound, 6-methoxy-2-benzoxazolinone (6-MBOA). Most rodents grow their gonads in response to 6-MBOA in their diets, but it is presently unknown whether they also use 6-MBOA to adjust other aspects of physiology, specifically their immune systems. 6-MBOA is structurally similar to melatonin, and seasonal changes in rodent immune activities are often mediated by melatonin. We therefore predicted that white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus), which breed seasonally and are reproductively sensitive to melatonin, would adjust their immune systems when fed 6-MBOA. 6-MBOA treated mice in long day lengths regressed their testes to a greater extent than mice fed a standard diet, or mice kept in short day lengths and fed 6-MBOA or a standard diet. One type of immune activity (delayed-type hypersensitivity) was not affected by 6-MBOA, however, although responses were greater in short versus long day mice. In sum, P. leucopus responded reproductively to 6-MBOA, although differently than other species; immune activity was unaffected. Other aspects of the immune system, especially in herbivorous rodents, may be affected by 6-MBOA and thus warrant further study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Neuroscience, and Evolution, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA. lmartin@cas.usf.edu
authors.forename: Lynn B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Eric M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Chelsea R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Hutch
authors.forename: Randy J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Nelson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001583:Benzoxazoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000378:metabolism*; D007109:Immunity / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D010542:Peromyscus; D017440:Photoperiod; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D012621:Seasons; D013045:Species Specificity; D013737:Testis / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D001583:Benzoxazoles; C031896:6-methoxybenzoxazolinone; D008550:Melatonin