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Wound healing reduces stress-induced immune changes: evidence for immune prioritization in the side-blotched lizard

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Abstract

Immune system function is affected by a variety of exogenous and endogenous stressors. Most studies have focused on the effect of stressors on immune function, but not necessarily on trade-offs within the immune system and interactions with energy-mobilizing hormones. In this study, we examined how bactericidal ability and corticosterone interacted by applying acute restraint stress in a non-model organism, the side-blotched lizard (Uta stansburiana), 10 days after receiving a cutaneous wound. We found a decrease in bactericidal ability in wounded animals after restraint stress. However, the percentage healed during the first 7 days was positively correlated with bactericidal ability 10 days after wounding. In addition, the magnitude of change in corticosterone concentration during the acute stress was positively correlated with the percentage of wound healing during the first 3 days. These two relationships may demonstrate a “faster is better” strategy. If energy is invested heavily in the initial wound healing stages, the individual may be able to mount a more effective immune and stress response earlier.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank L. D. Lucas for running the radioimmunoassays and A. R. Spence for analyzing the wound healing images. Additional thanks to G. D. Smith, G. R. Hopkins, A. M. Durso, E. D. Brodie, Jr., and four anonymous reviewers for providing critical comments to an earlier draft of this manuscript.

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  1. Department of Biology, Utah State University, 3505 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT, 84322, USA

    Lorin A. Neuman-Lee & Susannah S. French

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  1. Lorin A. Neuman-Lee
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Correspondence to Lorin A. Neuman-Lee.

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Communicated by G. Heldmaier.

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Neuman-Lee, L.A., French, S.S. Wound healing reduces stress-induced immune changes: evidence for immune prioritization in the side-blotched lizard. J Comp Physiol B 184, 623–629 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00360-014-0826-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00360-014-0826-z

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