Meeting Abstract
53.7 Sunday, Jan. 5 15:00 RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN PLASMA TESTOSTERONE, CORTICOSTERONE, GLUCOSE, AND URIC ACID DURING ACUTE STRESS AND SOCIAL CHALLENGE IN MALE PASSERINES DEVICHE, P.*; BEOUCHE, B.; DAVIES, S.; GAO, S.; LANE, S.; VALLE, S.; Arizona St. Univ., Tempe; Univ. Poitiers, France; Arizona St. Univ., Tempe; Arizona St. Univ., Tempe; Arizona St. Univ., Tempe; Arizona St. Univ., Tempe deviche@asu.edu
Testosterone (T) and corticosterone (CORT) influence protein and carbohydrate metabolism, yet few studies on free-ranging birds have researched relationships between short-term changes in plasma levels of these hormones and metabolic parameters. We measured changes in plasma total T, total CORT, glucose (GLU), and uric acid (UA; product of amino acid breakdown and potent antioxidant) in free-ranging adult male Rufous-winged Sparrows, Peucaea carpalis, in breeding condition following acute stress (capture and restraint) or social challenge for 30 min. Stress decreased plasma T and increased plasma CORT, and decreased plasma UA by 49% and GLU by 15%. A social challenge did not affect plasma T or GLU, but increased plasma CORT and decreased plasma UA by 43%. Thus, elevated plasma CORT during acute stress or social challenge correlated with decreased plasma UA but was not associated with hyperglycemia. Supporting these observations, acute stress in free-ranging adult male House Sparrows, Passer domesticus, tested outside (January) or during (spring: March and May) their breeding season consistently increased plasma CORT and decreased plasma T and UA (31%), but affected plasma GLU variably (Jan.: no change; March: decrease by 12%; May: increase by 17%). The observed decrease in plasma UA may reflect decreased amino acid metabolism or increased excretion and/or tissue uptake of this metabolite, the latter perhaps enhancing protection against stress-induced oxidative damage. Additional research is needed to understand the regulation of glycemia during acute stress. Supported by NSF Award 1026620 to P.D.
