Moore I T, Lerner J P, Lerner D T, Mason R T
Department of Zoology, 3029 Cordley Hall, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA.
Physiol Biochem Zool. 2000 May-Jun;73(3):307-12. doi: 10.1086/316748.
Over a 2-yr period, we investigated the annual cycles of plasma testosterone and corticosterone and the relationships between these hormones and body condition in a wild population of male red-spotted garter snakes, Thamnophis sirtalis concinnus. In the 10 mo that were sampled, a peak in testosterone was observed in late summer during gametogenesis and declining through the spring breeding period. Corticosterone and testosterone cycles were positively correlated, in contrast to many vertebrates, suggesting the lack of a direct negative interaction between the two hormones. Body condition, defined as the residual of the regression of mass on snout-vent length, also cycled annually, with individuals being more robust during the summer than during the spring or fall. Individuals with a positive body condition had significantly lower plasma levels of corticosterone than did individuals with a negative body condition, supporting the energetic role of glucocorticoids. There was no relationship between body condition and testosterone. This study suggests that annual cycles of testosterone, corticosterone, and body condition can be associated with one another, and considering all three simultaneously is necessary to understand their control and function.
在为期两年的时间里，我们研究了雄性红斑束带蛇（Thamnophis sirtalis concinnus）野生种群中血浆睾酮和皮质酮的年度循环，以及这些激素与身体状况之间的关系。在采样的10个月中，睾酮在夏末配子发生期间出现峰值，并在春季繁殖期逐渐下降。与许多脊椎动物不同，皮质酮和睾酮的循环呈正相关，这表明这两种激素之间缺乏直接的负相互作用。身体状况定义为体重对吻肛长度回归的残差，也呈年度循环，个体在夏季比春季或秋季更健壮。身体状况为正的个体血浆皮质酮水平显著低于身体状况为负的个体，这支持了糖皮质激素的能量作用。身体状况与睾酮之间没有关系。这项研究表明，睾酮、皮质酮和身体状况的年度循环可能相互关联，同时考虑这三者对于理解它们的调控和功能是必要的。
