Physiological aging in a natural population of northern red-backed voles (Clethrionomys rutilus).
Published: 2005
Language: eng
Number of pages: 65
Description: The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is critical for successful adaptation to stressors. However, life-long exposure to stressors has been proposed to cause deterioration of the HPA axis, and to have negative effects on physiological condition and survival. My objective was to determine if life-long exposure to stressors caused the HPA axis of free-ranging male northern red-backed voles (Clethrionomys rutilus) to become dysfunctional, and had a negative effect on survival. I examined the changes in the HPA axis that occurred in response to manipulated and natural levels of stressors. Life-long exposure to stressors had a negative effect on physiological condition and survival; however, it did not lead to deterioration of the HPA axis. In conclusion, my findings indicate that voles experience age-related physiological deterioration; however, they most likely do not live long enough to experience dysfunction of the HPA axis because they are exposed to high levels of extrinsic mortality.
Notes: Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 44-01, page: 0272.

Thesis (M.Sc.)--University of Toronto, 2005.

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