Lack of immunological responsiveness to photoperiod in a tropical rodent,Peromyscus aztecus hylocetes |
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Authors: | Demas G E Nelson R J |
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Institution: | Center for the Integrative Study of Animal Behavior, Department of Biology and Program in Neural Science, Indiana University, 1001 East 3rd Street, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA. gdemas@bio.indiana.edu |
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Abstract: | Non-tropical rodents undergo seasonal changes in immune function and disease. It has been hypothesized that seasonal fluctuations in immunity of non-tropical rodents are due to suppressed immune function during harsh winter conditions. A logical extension of this hypothesis is that seasonal changes in immunity should be reduced or absent in tropical rodents that do not experience marked seasonal fluctuations in environmental conditions; however this hypothesis remains to be tested. The present study tested the effects of photoperiod on humoral and cell-mediated immune function of male Aztec mice ( Peromyscus aztecus hylocetes). P. a. hylocetes were housed in long (L:D 16:8) or short days (L:D 8:16) for 10 weeks. Animals were then immunized with the antigen keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH). Serum anti-KLH immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentrations and splenocyte proliferation in response to the T-cell mitogen Concanavalin A were assessed. Short-day P. a. hylocetes did not display differences in reproductive or immune measures compared with long-day mice. Collectively, these results suggest that P. a. hylocetes are reproductively and immunologically non-responsive to photoperiod. This lack of immunological responsiveness is likely due to the relative seasonal stability of their environment compared with temperate zone species. |
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