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Metabolic responses to different immune challenges and varying resource availability in the side-blotched lizard (Uta stansburiana)

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Abstract

The energetic cost of immunity depends on many factors, including the type of challenge, the timing of the response, and the state of the animal. We measured changes in the standard metabolic rates of side-blotched lizards (Uta stansburiana Baird and Girard, 1852) in response to different immune challenges and nutritional states. In the first experiment, lizards were randomly assigned to one of four treatments: lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection (to stimulate the response to a pathogen), cutaneous biopsy (as a proxy to a superficial wound), both injection and biopsy, or neither (control). Four and five days later, we measured the standard metabolic rates of the lizards. In response to healing a cutaneous wound, lizards reduced metabolic rate and lost body mass. Healing rate was also inversely related to weight loss, but LPS had no effect on body mass or metabolic rate. In the second experiment, a new set of lizards were randomly assigned to a high-food or low-food diet and administered a cutaneous biopsy. As in the first experiment, we observed a reduction in metabolic rate after wounding; moreover, this decrease was positively correlated with the rate of healing. We observed higher rates of metabolism in lizards that ate more food, but food consumption was unrelated to the decrease in metabolic rate following the biopsy. These experiments demonstrate the dynamic nature of the immune response in response to immune challenge and the state of the organism.

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Acknowledgements

We thank K. Moeller for laboratory assistance and P. Zani for help with the manuscript. S. Durham gave statistical and stylistic advice. We are also grateful for lizard-catching help from A. Berryman, A. Durso, D. Hunter, and M. Murphy.

Author contributions

GS and SF contributed to all aspects of this work. LN and AW contributed to performing experiments, assays, and manuscript revision. MA contributed to data analysis, manuscript revision, and provided technical expertise. DD contributed to experimental design, manuscript preparation, and provided technical expertise. These experiments were supported by the Utah State University Department of Biology and Ecology Center, as well as the National Science Foundation (IOS)-1350070.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Utah State University, 5305 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT, 84322-5305, USA

    Geoffrey D. Smith, Lorin A. Neuman-Lee, Alison C. Webb & Susannah S. French

  2. Ecology Center, Utah State University, Logan, UT, 84322-5205, USA

    Geoffrey D. Smith, Alison C. Webb & Susannah S. French

  3. School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287-4501, USA

    Michael J. Angilletta Jr. & Dale F. DeNardo

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  1. Geoffrey D. Smith
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  2. Lorin A. Neuman-Lee
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  3. Alison C. Webb
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  4. Michael J. Angilletta Jr.
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  5. Dale F. DeNardo
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Correspondence to Geoffrey D. Smith.

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No one involved with these experiments have any competing interests.

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Communicated by G. Heldmaier.

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Smith, G.D., Neuman-Lee, L.A., Webb, A.C. et al. Metabolic responses to different immune challenges and varying resource availability in the side-blotched lizard (Uta stansburiana). J Comp Physiol B 187, 1173–1182 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00360-017-1095-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00360-017-1095-4

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