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Related Experiment Video

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Evaluation of Intracellular Location of Reactive Oxygen Species in Solea Senegalensis Spermatozoa

Evaluation of Intracellular Location of Reactive Oxygen Species in Solea Senegalensis Spermatozoa

Published on: March 11, 2018

Yolk testosterone reduces oxidative damages during postnatal development.

José Carlos Noguera¹, Carlos Alonso-Alvarez, Sin-Yeon Kim

¹Departamento deEcoloxía e Bioloxía Animal, Edificio de Ciencias Experimentales, Universidad de Vigo, 36310 Vigo, Spain. josec.noguera@uvigo.es

Biology Letters

|July 28, 2010

Summary

Maternal yolk testosterone enhances antioxidant defenses in yellow-legged gull chicks, preventing oxidative damage during early development. This suggests yolk testosterone shapes offspring oxidative stress resistance.

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Analysis of Oxidative Stress in Zebrafish Embryos

Analysis of Oxidative Stress in Zebrafish Embryos

Published on: July 7, 2014

Area of Science:

Developmental biology
Avian physiology
Oxidative stress research

Background:

Early life conditions significantly impact adult physiological traits.
Oxidative stress during development is a critical factor influencing long-term health.
Maternally derived yolk testosterone in birds can influence offspring phenotype, but its effect on oxidative stress is largely unknown.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the role of yolk testosterone on oxidative stress in yellow-legged gull chicks.
To determine how experimentally elevated yolk testosterone affects antioxidant levels, reactive oxygen species, and lipid oxidative damage during early development.

Main Methods:

Experimental manipulation of yolk testosterone levels in yellow-legged gull eggs.
Measurement of plasma antioxidants, reactive oxygen species, and lipid oxidative damage in nestlings.
Comparison of oxidative stress markers between control and testosterone-treated groups throughout postnatal development.

Main Results:

Chicks from testosterone-treated eggs showed no increase in oxidative damage during postnatal development.
These chicks exhibited a transient increase in plasma antioxidant levels.
Control chicks displayed an increase in oxidative damage as they grew.

Conclusions:

Yolk testosterone may confer oxidative stress resistance to developing chicks.
Increased antioxidant defenses and repair mechanisms appear to be key pathways involved.
Maternally transferred testosterone can shape the oxidative stress-resistance phenotype in early life stages.