Effects of age and reproduction on the stress axis of wild female meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus).
Published: 2004
Language: eng
Number of pages: 84
Description: The stress axis is a key homeostatic system crucial to every mammal's survival. Thus, it is important to investigate if it deteriorates with age and how this occurs. Since energy is limited in the natural world, organisms must trade-off investments between reproduction and somatic maintenance. When reproduction is initiated, resources are diverted from somatic maintenance into reproduction. My objective was to examine the effects of age and reproduction on the stress axis. I predicted that the stress axis (a key system promoting somatic maintenance) should be negatively affected by reproduction, not by age, and should show decreases in glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) mRNA and an increase in corticosterone (CORT) levels, as indicated by laboratory studies in aging rodents. My findings revealed that GR mRNA, MR mRNA and CORT levels increased as a function of reproductive and was unaffected by age.
Notes: Adviser:  Rudy Boonstra.

Thesis (M.Sc.)--University of Toronto, 2004.

Electronic version licensed for access by U. of T. users.

Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 42-06, page: 2127.

MICR copy on microfiche (1 microfiche).