serval:BIB_7D455A6ADA1F
Mating triggers dynamic immune regulations in wood ant queens.
10.1111/j.1420-9101.2008.01664.x
000263520900012
19170815
Castella
G.
author
Christe
P.
author
Chapuisat
M.
author
article
2009
Journal of Evolutionary Biology
1420-9101[electronic], 1010-061X[linking]
journal
22
3
564-570
Mating can affect female immunity in multiple ways. On the one hand, the immune system may be activated by pathogens transmitted during mating, sperm and seminal proteins, or wounds inflicted by males. On the other hand, immune defences may also be down-regulated to reallocate resources to reproduction. Ants are interesting models to study post-mating immune regulation because queens mate early in life, store sperm for many years, and use it until their death many years later, while males typically die after mating. This long-term commitment between queens and their mates limits the opportunity for sexual conflict but raises the new constraint of long-term sperm survival. In this study, we examine experimentally the effect of mating on immunity in wood ant queens. Specifically, we compared the phenoloxidase and antibacterial activities of mated and virgin Formica paralugubris queens. Queens had reduced levels of active phenoloxidase after mating, but elevated antibacterial activity 7 days after mating. These results indicate that the process of mating, dealation and ovary activation triggers dynamic patterns of immune regulation in ant queens that probably reflect functional responses to mating and pathogen exposure that are independent of sexual conflict.
Animals
Anti-Infective Agents/analysis
Anti-Infective Agents/pharmacology
Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides/analysis
Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides/pharmacology
Ants/enzymology
Ants/immunology
Arthrobacter/drug effects
Female
Hemolymph/chemistry
Hemolymph/enzymology
Male
Monophenol Monooxygenase/metabolism
Random Allocation
Sexual Behavior, Animal/physiology
eng
60_published
true
peer-reviewed
University of Lausanne
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