TY - JOUR
T1 - Sex differences in adrenal function in the lizard Cnemidophorus sexlineatus
T2 - II. Responses to acute stress in the laboratory
AU - Grassman, Mark
AU - Hess, David L.
PY - 1992/11/1
Y1 - 1992/11/1
N2 - Circulating concentrations of plasma corticosterone and gonadal steroids were measured intact and gonadectomized male and female lizards (Cnemidophorus sexlineatus) following acute stress (handling) in the laboratory. There was a significant increase in plasma corticosterone after stress. Whereas intact females exhibited greater concentrations of corticosterone relative to intact males, ovariectomized females exhibited lower concentrations of corticosterone relative to castrated males. In addition to sex differences in corticosterone responses to gonadectomy, progesterone was elevated by stress in both intact and ovariectomized females but not in males. Corticosterone adjusted for castration and handling in males was negatively correlated with the plasma androgen level. The adrenal responsiveness of males to acute stress may be attenuated by androgens presumably secreted by the testis. Not only does adrenal function influence reproduction, but adrenal responses differ between males and females, and appear to be influenced by the gonadal axis. The sex differences in adrenal responses to stress likely reflect different reproductive strategies and nutritional requirements of males and females during the breeding season. © 1992 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
AB - Circulating concentrations of plasma corticosterone and gonadal steroids were measured intact and gonadectomized male and female lizards (Cnemidophorus sexlineatus) following acute stress (handling) in the laboratory. There was a significant increase in plasma corticosterone after stress. Whereas intact females exhibited greater concentrations of corticosterone relative to intact males, ovariectomized females exhibited lower concentrations of corticosterone relative to castrated males. In addition to sex differences in corticosterone responses to gonadectomy, progesterone was elevated by stress in both intact and ovariectomized females but not in males. Corticosterone adjusted for castration and handling in males was negatively correlated with the plasma androgen level. The adrenal responsiveness of males to acute stress may be attenuated by androgens presumably secreted by the testis. Not only does adrenal function influence reproduction, but adrenal responses differ between males and females, and appear to be influenced by the gonadal axis. The sex differences in adrenal responses to stress likely reflect different reproductive strategies and nutritional requirements of males and females during the breeding season. © 1992 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
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U2 - 10.1002/jez.1402640210
DO - 10.1002/jez.1402640210
M3 - Article
C2 - 1431780
AN - SCOPUS:0026955237
SN - 0022-104X
VL - 264
SP - 183
EP - 188
JO - Journal of Experimental Zoology
JF - Journal of Experimental Zoology
IS - 2
ER -