黑线仓鼠种群季节性动态的生理免疫机制

动物种群数量变化和动态调节机制，一直是种群生态学关注的核心问题。黑线仓鼠(Cricetulus barabensis)是分布于我国北方的重要农业害鼠，其种群数量存在明显的季节性和年度变化，是研究种群动态机理的好模型。我们通过采用免疫学方法，对野外黑线仓鼠天然免疫、体液免疫、细胞免疫、细胞因子等免疫指标与产热能力的季节性变化进行测定,同时研究它们与种群数量的关系，并对冬季免疫能力增强假说进行检验；通过实验室内模拟春夏季节(常温、食物充足)向秋冬季节(低温、食物缺乏)转变以及补充外源皮质酮和瘦素实验，明确温度和食物资源对免疫、产热能力的影响及其作用的神经内分泌机制，进而阐明黑线仓鼠种群季节性变化的生理免疫机制，验证免疫、产热能力的季节性变化是种群季节性变化的原因的假说。研究结果将从生态免疫学的视角揭示小型哺乳动物种群动态调节机制。

Research on the mechanism of population dynamics in small mammals has been a focus in population ecology all along. Striped hamsters (Cricetulus barabensis) which distribute mainly in northern China are primary agricultural pest rodents. Their population dynamics demonstrates evident seasonal and annual fluctuations, hence striped hamsters are good model systems to investigate the mechanism of population dynamics. By using immunological methods, we will examine seasonal changes of the immunological parameters such as innate, humoral and cellular immunity and thermogenic capacity in striped hamsters in the field. Their relationship with the population size will also be studied. At the same time, the winter immunoenhancement hypothesis will be testified. By simulating seasonal transition from spring and summer (normal temperature and plentiful food) to autumn and winter (low temperature and food shortage) and carrying out the subsequent corticosterone and leptin administration experiments in the laboratory, we are to elucidate the neuroendocrine mechanism of the influence of temperature and food resources on immunity and thermogenic capacity in striped hamsters. Our hypothesis that seasonal changes of immune function and thermogenesis underlie the seasonal population fluctuation of striped hamsters will be testified. Our findings will unravel the mechanism of population dynamics in small mammals from the perspective of ecoimmunology.