Maternal glucocorticoids promote offspring growth without inducing oxidative stress or shortening telomeres in wild red squirrels

Dantzer, B., van Kesteren, F., Westrick, S. E., Boutin, S., McAdam, A. G., Lane, J. E., Gillespie, R., Majer, A., Haussmann, M. and Monaghan, P. (2020) Maternal glucocorticoids promote offspring growth without inducing oxidative stress or shortening telomeres in wild red squirrels. Journal of Experimental Biology, 223(1), jeb.212373. (doi: 10.1242/jeb.212373) (PMID:31796605)

Abstract

Elevations in glucocorticoid (GC) levels in breeding females may induce adaptive shifts in offspring life histories. Offspring produced by mothers with elevated GCs may be better prepared to face harsh environments, where a faster pace of life is beneficial. We examined how experimentally elevated GCs in pregnant or lactating North American red squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) affected offspring postnatal growth, structural size and oxidative stress levels (two antioxidants and oxidative protein damage) in three different tissues (blood, heart and liver) and liver telomere lengths. We predicted that offspring from mothers treated with GCs would grow faster but would also have higher levels of oxidative stress and shorter telomeres, which may predict reduced longevity. Offspring from mothers treated with GCs during pregnancy were 8.3% lighter around birth but grew (in body mass) 17.0% faster than those from controls, whereas offspring from mothers treated with GCs during lactation grew 34.8% slower than those from controls and did not differ in body mass around birth. Treating mothers with GCs during pregnancy or lactation did not alter the oxidative stress levels or telomere lengths of their offspring. Fast-growing offspring from any of the treatment groups did not have higher oxidative stress levels or shorter telomere lengths, indicating that offspring that grew faster early in life did not exhibit oxidative costs after this period of growth. Our results indicate that elevations in maternal GCs may induce plasticity in offspring growth without long-term oxidative costs to the offspring that might result in a shortened lifespan.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: Research was supported by the National Science Foundation to B.D. (1749627) and to B.D. and A.G.M. (1110436), as well as funds from the University of Michigan to B.D. The Kluane Red Squirrel Project is supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada to S.B., A.G.M. and J.E.L.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Monaghan, Professor Pat and Gillespie, Mr Robert

Creator Roles

Gillespie, R.: Methodology, Investigation
Monaghan, P.: Methodology, Writing – review and editing, Supervision, Project administration

• Authors: Dantzer, B., van Kesteren, F., Westrick, S. E., Boutin, S., McAdam, A. G., Lane, J. E., Gillespie, R., Majer, A., Haussmann, M., and Monaghan, P.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine
• Journal Name: Journal of Experimental Biology
• Publisher: Company of Biologists
• ISSN: 0022-0949
• ISSN (Online): 1477-9145
• Published Online: 06 January 2020