title: Stress exposure in early post-natal life reduces telomere length: an experimental demonstration in a long-lived seabird.
abstract: Exposure to stressors early in life is associated with faster ageing and reduced longevity. One important mechanism that could underlie these late life effects is increased telomere loss. Telomere length in early post-natal life is an important predictor of subsequent lifespan, but the factors underpinning its variability are poorly understood. Recent human studies have linked stress exposure to increased telomere loss. These studies have of necessity been non-experimental and are consequently subjected to several confounding factors; also, being based on leucocyte populations, where cell composition is variable and some telomere restoration can occur, the extent to which these effects extend beyond the immune system has been questioned. In this study, we experimentally manipulated stress exposure early in post-natal life in nestling European shags (Phalacrocorax aristotelis) in the wild and examined the effect on telomere length in erythrocytes. Our results show that greater stress exposure during early post-natal life increases telomere loss at this life-history stage, and that such an effect is not confined to immune cells. The delayed effects of increased telomere attrition in early life could therefore give rise to a 'time bomb' that reduces longevity in the absence of any obvious phenotypic consequences early in life.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, , Graham Kerr Building, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK, Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Bush Estate, Penicuik, Midlothian EH26 0QB, UK.
authors.forename: Katherine A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Herborn
authors.forename: Britt J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Heidinger
authors.forename: Winnie
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Boner
authors.forename: Jose C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Noguera
authors.forename: Aileen
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Adam
authors.forename: Francis
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Daunt
authors.forename: Pat
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Monaghan
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D001717:Birds / Q000235:genetics*; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000494:pharmacology; D004912:Erythrocytes; D008136:Longevity; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000235:genetics*; D059506:Telomere Shortening
chemical_list: D003345:Corticosterone
keywords: Phalacrocorax aristotelis; ageing; lifespan; senescence; stress; telomere