@article{827e9a9c889740e8b397fc77bd60ee02,
title = "Reproductive state and water deprivation increase plasma corticosterone in a capital breeder",
abstract = "Plasma corticosterone (CORT) concentrations fluctuate in response to homeostatic demands. CORT is widely recognized as an important hormone related to energy balance. However, far less attention has been given to the potential role of CORT in regulating salt and water balance or responding to osmotic imbalances. We examined the effects of reproductive and hydric states on CORT levels in breeding Children's pythons (Antaresia childreni), a species with substantial energetic and hydric costs associated with egg development. Using a 2 × 2 experimental design, we examined how reproduction and water deprivation, both separately and combined, impact CORT levels and how these changes correlate with hydration (plasma osmolality) and energy levels (blood glucose). We found that reproduction leads to increased CORT levels, as does dehydration induced by water deprivation. The combined impact of reproduction and water deprivation led to the largest increases in CORT levels. Additionally, we found significant positive relationships among CORT levels, plasma osmolality, and blood glucose. Our results provide evidence that both reproductive activity and increased plasma osmolality can lead to increased plasma CORT in an ectotherm, which could be explained by either CORT having a role as a mineralocorticoid or CORT being elevated as part of a stress response to resource imbalances.",
keywords = "Antaresia childreni, Hydration, Osmotic stress, Reproductive investment, Squamate",
author = "Brusch, {George A.} and DeNardo, {Dale F.} and Olivier Lourdais",
note = "Funding Information: This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship (Grant # 1311230), the Peabody Family Memorial Award, and the Graduate and Professional Students Association JumpStart grant at Arizona State University for GABIV. Funding in France was provided by the CNRS and the Conseil R{\'e}gional de Nouvelle Aquitaine (AQUASTRESS project). Funding Information: This work would not have been possible without assistance from members of the DeNardo lab who helped with breeding colony management as well as Department of Animal Care and Technologies staff who assisted with animal care. No competing interests declared. GABIV, OL, and DFD designed the study and collected the samples. GABIV conducted a majority of the assays (except for CORT), performed the statistical analyses, and led the writing of the manuscript. DD and OL contributed to revisions and gave final approval for publication. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship (Grant # 1311230), the Peabody Family Memorial Award, and the Graduate and Professional Students Association JumpStart grant at Arizona State University for GABIV. Funding in France was provided by the CNRS and the Conseil R?gional de Nouvelle Aquitaine (AQUASTRESS project). The datasets supporting this article can be accessed at https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.7970819. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2019 Elsevier Inc. Copyright: Copyright 2020 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.",
year = "2020",
month = mar,
day = "1",
doi = "10.1016/j.ygcen.2019.113375",
language = "English (US)",
volume = "288",
journal = "General and Comparative Endocrinology",
issn = "0016-6480",
publisher = "Academic Press Inc.",
}