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Related Experiment Videos

Sex differences in immunocompetence differ between two Peromyscus species

S L Klein1, R J Nelson

  • 1Department of Psychology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218-2686, USA.

The American Journal of Physiology
|August 1, 1997
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

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Sex differences in immune function were not greater in polygynous mice than monogamous mice. Instead, females of the monogamous species showed higher immunocompetence and lower body mass than males.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Animal Behavior

Background:

  • Males often display reduced immunocompetence and increased disease susceptibility compared to females.
  • Explanations involve proximate mechanisms (e.g., hormones) and variation in reproductive success.
  • Hypotheses predict greater sex differences in immunocompetence in polygynous species due to higher reproductive variance.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the contribution of hormonal mechanisms and reproductive success variation to sex differences in cell-mediated immunity.
  • To compare these factors between a polygynous species (Peromyscus maniculatus) and a monogamous species (Peromyscus californicus).

Main Methods:

  • Assessed cell-mediated immune function via splenocyte proliferation (concanavalin A response).

Related Experiment Videos

  • Measured body mass and circulating sex steroid concentrations (testosterone, estradiol).
  • Compared immune function, body mass, and hormone levels between sexes and species.

    • Main Results:

    • Sex differences in cell-mediated immunity and body mass were observed only in monogamous Peromyscus californicus, with females showing higher splenocyte proliferation and lower body mass.
    • Males of both species had different testosterone concentrations, but females did not differ in estradiol.
    • Sex steroid concentrations did not correlate with immunocompetence or body mass; larger males of P. californicus had reduced immune responses.

    Conclusions:

    • Results do not support the hypothesis that sex differences in immunocompetence are more pronounced in polygynous species.
    • Circulating testosterone does not appear to mediate sex differences in immunocompetence or body mass in Peromyscus californicus.
    • Immune function and body mass sex differences may be influenced by factors beyond mating system and sex steroids.