Variation in levels of reactive oxygen species is explained by maternal identity, sex and body-size-corrected clutch size in a lizard

Many organisms show differences between males and females in growth rate and crucial life history parameters, such as longevity. Considering this, we may expect levels of toxic metabolic by-products of the respiratory chain, such as reactive oxygen species (ROS), to vary with age and sex. Here, we a...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Die Naturwissenschaften 2009, Vol.96 (1), p.25-29
Main Authors: Olsson, Mats, Wilson, Mark, Uller, Tobias, Mott, Beth, Isaksson, Caroline
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Body Size
Clutch Size
damage
Environment
Female
Flow Cytometry
genes
life history
Life Sciences
Lizards - physiology
Male
mitochondrial
Original Paper
Ovoviviparity
oxidative stress
Reactive oxygen species (ROS)
Reactive Oxygen Species - blood
Reactive Oxygen Species - metabolism
Relative clutch size
sex allocation
Sex-specific effects
Social Sciences Interdisciplinary
Tvärvetenskapliga studier
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Many organisms show differences between males and females in growth rate and crucial life history parameters, such as longevity. Considering this, we may expect levels of toxic metabolic by-products of the respiratory chain, such as reactive oxygen species (ROS), to vary with age and sex. Here, we analyse ROS levels in female Australian painted dragon lizards (Ctenophorus pictus) and their offspring using fluorescent probes and flow cytometry. Basal level of four ROS species (singlet oxygen, peroxynitrite, superoxide and H₂O₂) measured with a combined marker, and superoxide measured specifically, varied significantly among families but not between the sexes. When blood cells from offspring were chemically encouraged to accelerate the electron transport chain by mitochondrial uncoupling, net superoxide levels were three times higher in daughters than sons (resulting in levels outside of the normal ROS range) and varied among mothers depending on offspring sex (significant interaction between maternal identity and offspring sex). In offspring, there were depressive effects on ROS of size-controlled relative clutch size, which relies directly on circulating levels of vitellogenin, a confirmed antioxidant in some species. Thus, levels of reactive oxygen species varies among females, offspring and in relation to reproductive investment in a manner that makes its regulatory processes likely targets of selection.
ISSN:0028-1042
1432-1904
DOI:10.1007/s00114-008-0444-2