Meeting Abstract
Across taxa, immunity is a complex process that both affects and can be affected by the endocrine system. For example, glucocorticoids have a number of immune-effects such as delaying the healing process. Another relationship occurs between the immune system and the neuroendocrine reproductive-axis, with testosterone (T) often suppressing immune function. One hypothesis for the immunosuppressive effects of T on immunity is the immunocompetence handicap hypothesis (ICHH), which suggests that T drives the development of secondary sexual characteristics at the cost of immunosuppression. We tested the effects of T on wound healing in Allegheny Mountain dusky salamanders, a species with androgen-dependent glands used by males in pheromone delivery during mating. Wound healing is a biologically relevant measure of innate immunity that consists of inflammation, growth, and tissue remodeling. Subjects were assigned to one of four treatment groups: castration + testosterone propionate (TP) implant, castration + blank implant, sham surgery + blank implant, or intact. After healing from surgery, all animals received a dermal biopsy that was monitored over the course of 30 days. We predicted that removal of T via castration would enhance healing compared to subjects in which T was present. Overall, healing did not differ among treatments. This suggests that T has neither enhancing nor inhibitory effects on wound healing.
