Journal article
Effects of stress-induced increases of corticosterone on circulating triglyceride levels, biliverdin concentration, and heme oxygenase expression
COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY A-MOLECULAR & INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY, v 240, 110608
Feb 2020
PMID: 31704186
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
When exposed to stressors, animals physiologically respond by secreting glucocorticoid hormones. Most birds, reptiles, and amphibians secrete corticosterone (CORT), which allows them to maximize short-term survival, including by modulating lipid metabolism. However, the factors regulating lipid metabolism, particularly during acute (i.e., short-term) stressors, are not well-characterized. To investigate one putative mechanism, we examined how expression of the enzyme heme oxygenase (HO), which primarily converts heme into biliverdin, changes during an acute stressor. Because HO has links to decreased levels of triglycerides, we tested the hypothesis that an acute stressor increases HO expression, which would concomitantly decrease circulating lipid levels. We compared free-living house sparrow (Passer domesticus) nestlings exposed to a one-hour stressor to control individuals, and quantified HO expression and biliverdin concentration in spleen, liver, or kidney tissue, as well as circulating CORT, triglyceride, and glycerol levels. Nestlings exposed to a stressor had reduced circulating triglycerides consistent with an increased rate of gluconeogenesis during an acute stressor. Concentrations of triglycerides were also negatively correlated with HO expression in the liver, which is consistent with mammalian studies. However, contrary to our predictions, exposure to a stressor did not affect HO expression, or biliverdin concentration in liver, spleen, or kidney. Overall, our results support links between CORT, triglyceride levels, and HO expression, though the molecular pathways connecting these metrics still need to be elucidated.
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Details
- Title
- Effects of stress-induced increases of corticosterone on circulating triglyceride levels, biliverdin concentration, and heme oxygenase expression
- Publication Details
- COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY A-MOLECULAR & INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY, v 240, 110608
- Publisher
- ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC; NEW YORK
- Grant note
- We would like to thank Lafayette College (to MWB and JKH) for financial support, the David M. Nalven'88 Memorial Fellowship (to JAM), and the Excel Scholars program at Lafayette College (to SEB, MLR, and SFS). We would also like to thank several anonymous reviewers for their comments and feedback.
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Drexel University
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000508489600012
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85074810536
- Other Identifier
- 991021860676004721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
- Physiology
- Zoology