Mystic Aquarium, A Division of Sea Research Foundation Inc., 55 Coogan Blvd., Mystic, CT 06355, USA.
Brain Behav Immun. 2012 Jan;26(1):122-31. doi: 10.1016/j.bbi.2011.08.003. Epub 2011 Aug 25.
This study assessed changes in phagocyte function and activation of the sympatho-adrenal medullary and hypothalamo-pituitary adrenal axes of beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) in response to translocation and introduction to a novel social environment. Transported belugas exhibited increases in epinephrine (E), norepinephrine (NE), and cortisol levels in response to the translocation process. In response to the introduction of the transported belugas, resident belugas exhibited an increase in E and NE but not cortisol. Moreover, the increase in E and NE shown by the transported belugas was significantly greater than the increase exhibited by the resident belugas. Resident belugas exhibited a concomitant decrease in neutrophil and monocyte phagocytosis associated with the introduction of the transported belugas. In contrast, transported belugas exhibited an attendant increase in phagocytosis and respiratory burst activity immediately following transport. Differences in phagocyte response may derive from differences in hormonal milieu, stressor modality and/or intensity, or phagocyte priming. Investigating the complex interactions between types of stressors, neuroendocrine response, and immunocompetence will lead to a better understanding of the impacts of environmental challenges, including anthropogenic perturbations, on the health of cetacean populations.
本研究评估了白鲸（Delphinapterus leucas）在迁移和引入新的社会环境后，吞噬细胞功能和交感肾上腺髓质及下丘脑-垂体-肾上腺轴的变化。在迁移过程中，运输的白鲸表现出肾上腺素（E）、去甲肾上腺素（NE）和皮质醇水平的增加。为了应对运输的白鲸的引入，当地的白鲸表现出 E 和 NE 的增加，但皮质醇没有增加。此外，运输的白鲸表现出的 E 和 NE 的增加明显大于当地白鲸的增加。当地的白鲸在引入运输的白鲸时，中性粒细胞和单核细胞吞噬作用同时下降。相比之下，运输的白鲸在运输后立即表现出吞噬作用和呼吸爆发活性的增加。吞噬细胞反应的差异可能源于激素环境、应激方式和/或强度或吞噬细胞的预刺激的差异。研究不同类型的应激源、神经内分泌反应和免疫功能之间的复杂相互作用，将有助于更好地了解环境挑战，包括人为干扰，对鲸目动物种群健康的影响。
