Linked Life Data

19344666

Source:http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/id/19344666

Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
1-2
pubmed:dateCreated
2009-7-14
pubmed:abstractText
Despite accumulating evidence that birds, in which females are the heterogametic sex, are able to manipulate primary offspring sex ratio, the underlying mechanism remains elusive. Steroid hormones, which govern female reproduction and are also accumulated by the developing follicle could potentially affect primary sex ratio by differential follicle development in relation to future sex and meiotic drive, or by sex specific influence on oocyte abortion or fertilization. So far, experimental results on the involvement of maternal testosterone (T) in offspring sex manipulation are ambiguous. To investigate the effect of T on primary sex ratio and elucidate underlying mechanisms, we elevated circulating T levels in female homing pigeons (Columba livia). During the course of the experiment females produced three clutches--before and during T implantation, and one year after implant removal. Intriguingly, first eggs, but not second eggs of T females were significantly male biased relative to sham-implanted controls. One year after cessation of the treatment the male bias was still present, indicating long-term effects on female reproductive physiology. T treatment did not affect maternal body condition, nor was body condition correlated with offspring sex ratio. Our data on timing of oviposition, lack of infertile eggs, and yolk weight indicate a possible role for sex specific follicle abortion, perhaps in combination with meiotic drive. However, despite T treatment elevating maternal plasma levels, egg yolk T concentrations did not differ between treatment groups and did not vary with embryo sex, suggesting that yolk T is not involved in meiotic drive.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Sep
pubmed:issn
1095-6840
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Electronic
pubmed:day
1
pubmed:volume
163
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
184-92
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2009
pubmed:articleTitle
Testosterone has a long-term effect on primary sex ratio of first eggs in pigeons--in search of a mechanism.
pubmed:affiliation
Behavioral Biology, University of Groningen, Kerklaan 30, P.O. Box 14, 9750 AA Haren, The Netherlands. V.Goerlich@rug.nl
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article