The oxidative cost of reproduction depends on early development oxidative stress and sex in a bird species

In the early 2000’s, a new component of the cost of reproduction was proposed: oxidative stress. Since then the oxidative cost of reproduction hypothesis has, however, received mixed support. Different arguments have been provided to explain this. Among them, the lack of a life history perspective on most experimental tests was suggested. We manipulated the levels of a key intracellular antioxidant (glutathione) in captive zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata) during a short period of early life and subsequently tested the oxidative cost of reproduction. Birds were allowed to mate freely in an outdoor aviary during several months. We repeatedly enlarged or reduced their broods to increase or reduce, respectively, breeding effort. Birds whose glutathione levels were reduced during growth showed higher erythrocyte resistance to free radical-induced hemolysis when forced to rear enlarged broods. This supports the hypothesis predicting the occurrence of developing programs matching early and ...

21世纪初，学界提出了繁殖成本的一个全新组成部分：氧化应激（oxidative stress）。然而自此之后，繁殖的氧化成本假说（oxidative cost of reproduction hypothesis）却获得了参差不齐的支持证据。对此，学界提出了多种解释，其中便有观点指出，绝大多数相关实验检验均缺乏生活史研究视角。我们在圈养斑胸草雀（Taeniopygia guttata）幼年的短时段内，对其体内关键细胞内抗氧化剂——谷胱甘肽（glutathione）的水平进行了操控，随后对繁殖的氧化成本假说开展了检验。我们让这些雀鸟在室外鸟舍内自由交配长达数月之久。通过反复扩大或缩小它们的窝雏数，我们分别提升或降低了其繁殖投入。在生长阶段谷胱甘肽水平被降低的个体，在被迫抚育更大窝雏数时，其红细胞抵御自由基诱导溶血的能力显著更强。这一结果支持了该假说，该假说预测存在匹配早期发育与……的发育程序。