Sex differences in cell-mediated immunity in the Magellanic penguin Spheniscus magellanicus

Males in domestic and laboratory populations usually display a lower immunocompetence than females due to differential action of steroid hormones, but information for natural populations is scant. Here we show that male Magellanic penguins Spheniscus magellanicus had a significantly lower cell-media...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Annales zoologici fennici 2001-01, Vol.38 (2), p.111-116
Main Authors: Moreno, Juan, Potti, Jaime, Yorio, Pablo, Borboroglu, Pablo García
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Breeding
Cell mediated immunity
Female animals
Hatching
Immunocompetence
Male animals
Marine
Penguins
Phytohemagglutinins
Sex hormones
Sex linked differences
Spheniscus magellanicus
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Summary:Males in domestic and laboratory populations usually display a lower immunocompetence than females due to differential action of steroid hormones, but information for natural populations is scant. Here we show that male Magellanic penguins Spheniscus magellanicus had a significantly lower cell-mediated immunity at hatching of their chicks than females. This was assayed through the phytohemagglutinin injection assay, a standard method of measuring T-cell-dependent immunocompetence in birds. Breeding phenology affected condition at laying and cell-mediated immunity at hatching for males, with higher values for late-breeding males. In females, condition at laying declined with breeding date, with no link with immunocompetence at hatching. Early breeding males may incur date-dependent costs in terms of condition and subsequent immunocompetence.
ISSN:0003-455X
1797-2450