title: The role of corticosterone and toxicity in the antipredator behavior of the Rough-skinned Newt (Taricha granulosa).
abstract: A variety of mechanisms are responsible for enabling an organism to escape a predatory attack, including behavioral changes, alterations in hormone levels, and production and/or secretion of toxins. However, these mechanisms are rarely studied in conjunction with each other. The Rough-skinned Newt (Taricha granulosa) is an ideal organism to examine the relationships between these mechanisms because its behavioral displays and toxin secretion during a predator attack are well documented and readily characterized. While we found no direct relationship between antipredator behavior and endogenous levels of corticosterone (CORT), antipredator behavior was inhibited when exogenous CORT and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) were administered, resulting in high circulating concentrations of CORT, indicating that CORT may play a role in mediating the behavior. There was no correlation between the animal's toxicity and either CORT or behavior. The results of this study provide evidence that CORT plays an important, yet complex, role in the antipredator response of these amphibians.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Utah State University, 5305 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322-5305, United States. Electronic address: lorin215@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Lorin A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Neuman-Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, California State University, 9001 Stockdale Highway, Bakersfield, CA 93311-1022, United States. Electronic address: astokes2@csub.edu.
authors.forename: Amber N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Stokes
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Utah State University, 5305 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322-5305, United States. Electronic address: sydney.greenfield@aggiemail.usu.edu.
authors.forename: Sydney
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Greenfield
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Utah State University, 5305 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322-5305, United States; Ecology Center, Utah State University, 5205 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322-5305, United States. Electronic address: gareth.r.hopkins@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Gareth R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Hopkins
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Utah State University, 5305 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322-5305, United States; Ecology Center, Utah State University, 5205 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322-5305, United States. Electronic address: e.brodie@usu.edu.
authors.forename: Edmund D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Brodie
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Utah State University, 5305 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322-5305, United States; Ecology Center, Utah State University, 5205 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322-5305, United States. Electronic address: susannah.french@usu.edu.
authors.forename: Susannah S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: French
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006728:Hormones / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology; D007118:Immunoassay; D012455:Salamandridae / Q000502:physiology*; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D013779:Tetrodotoxin / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D006728:Hormones; D013779:Tetrodotoxin; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D003345:Corticosterone
keywords: Amphibian; Glucocorticoids; Stress; Tetrodotoxin; Unken reflex