Testosterone upregulates lipoprotein status to control sexual attractiveness in a colorful songbird
Testosterone upregulates lipoprotein status to control sexual attractiveness in a colorful songbird
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DOI：
10.1007/s00265-005-0135-3
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发表时间：
2006-06-01
影响因子：
2.3
通讯作者：
Adkins-Regan, Elizabeth
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
McGraw, Kevin J.;Correa, Stephanie M.;Adkins-Regan, Elizabeth
动物的许多第二性征的一个显著特征是它们的表达受性类固醇激素控制。然而，只有少数几种装饰品，我们知道像睾酮（T）这样的雄激素增强性状产生的精确分子机制。我们研究了红色类胡萝卜素为基础的喙雄性斑胸草雀（Taeniopygia guttata），这是一个性选择性状，被认为是T依赖。在以前的研究中，我们证明了雄性雀在血液中产生脂蛋白的程度，脂蛋白结合从饮食中获得的类胡萝卜素色素并将其运输到外周组织，调节类胡萝卜素在体内的积累和喙色素沉着。在这里，我们表明，T行为上调脂蛋白的生产，并允许雄性斑胸草雀显示华而不实，性吸引力的着色。血液中的循环T水平积极和显着预测脂蛋白谱（通过胆固醇水平测量），血液类胡萝卜素浓度和鸟的颜色。外源性T管理升高胆固醇和类胡萝卜素的地位，以及喙发红。最后，实验性抑制T（使用抗雄激素的fluoride）下调脂蛋白的产生和类胡萝卜素循环，使喙褪色。这种雄激素和脂蛋白介导的系统代表了动物性类固醇依赖性状发展的更详细的生理机制之一。
A salient feature of many secondary sexual characteristics in animals is that their expression is controlled by sex-steroid hormones. However, for only a few types of ornaments do we know the precise molecular mechanism by which androgens like testosterone (T) enhance trait production. We studied the red carotenoid-based beak of male zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata), which serves as a sexually selected trait and is thought to be T dependent. In previous research, we demonstrated that the extent to which male finches produce lipoproteins in the bloodstream, which bind carotenoid pigments acquired from the diet and transport them to peripheral tissues, regulates the accumulation of carotenoids in the body and beak pigmentation. Here we show that T acts to upregulate lipoprotein production and allows male zebra finches to display flashy, sexually attractive coloration. Levels of circulating T in blood positively and significantly predicted lipoprotein profile (as measured by cholesterol levels), blood carotenoid concentration, and beak color. Exogenous T administration elevated cholesterol and carotenoid status as well as beak redness. Last, experimental inhibition of T (using the anti-androgen flutamide) downregulated lipoprotein production and carotenoid circulation and faded the beak. This androgen- and lipoprotein-mediated system represents one of the more detailed physiological mechanisms underlying the development of a sex-steroid-dependent trait in animals.