It takes two to tango: Phagocyte and lymphocyte numbers in a small mammalian hibernator.

摘要: Immunity is energetically costly and competes for resources with other physiological body functions, which may result in trade-offs that impair fitness during demanding situations. Endocrine mediators, particularly stress hormones, play a central role these relationships directly impact leukocyte differentials. To determine the effects of external stressors, energetic restraints competing functions on immune parameters their relevance fitness, we investigated profiles active season small obligate hibernator, edible dormouse (Glis glis), five different study sites south-western Germany. The highly synchronized yearly cycle this species close adaptation its life history to irregular abundance food provide natural experiment elucidate mechanisms underlying variations parameters. In contrast previous studies hibernators, showed an immediate recovery all subtypes upon emergence, our revealed hibernation results depleted phagocyte (neutrophils monocytes) stores recovered only slowly. As phenomenon low counts was even more pronounced at beginning year primarily immature neutrophils were present blood preparatory seem regeneration phagocytes before terminated. Surprisingly, thereafter took several weeks, presumably due restrictions. This impaired first line defense coincides lowest survival probabilities annual species. Reduced could furthermore be linked drastic increases P/L ratio (phagocytes/lymphocytes), indicator stress, reproduction. On hand, moderate augmentations occurred periods availability associated increased survival, but reproductive failure. case, response probably represents adaptive reaction contributes by activating energy resources. expectation, not detect amplification through high population densities. Summarized, clearly reveal picture dormice responds sensitively conditions hibernation, activity can such as survival. Thus represent excellent model organism investigate regulatory system under conditions.