Data from: Food restriction and chronic stress alter energy use and affect immunity in an infrequent feeder

Glucocorticoids are important mediators of energy utilization for key physiological processes, including immune function. Much work has focused on the effects of energy limitation and stress for key physiological processes such as reproduction and immunity. However, it is unclear how stress alters energy use across different energy states, and the physiological ramifications of such effects are even less clear. In this study, we altered energy and stress states of an infrequent feeder, the Terrestrial Gartersnake (Thamnophis elegans), using fasting and repeated restraint stress (Chronic Stressors) to test how these challenges interacted to affect immune function, energy metabolites, and glucocorticoid reactivity (a traditional indicator of stress state) to restraint stress, a standardized, acute stressor. After this acute stressor, the snakes which had received chronic stress had increased glucocorticoid reactivity, and both treatments altered energy metabolite use and storage. Evidence of interaction of food restriction and chronic stress treatments on innate immune function and energy metabolites (triglycerides and glycerol) suggests that stress alters energy use in a manner dependent on the energy state of the animal. Snakes have a remarkable ability to maintain functionality of key physiological processes under stressful conditions but are still susceptible to multiple simultaneous stressors, a situation increasingly prevalent in our ever-changing environment.

糖皮质激素（glucocorticoids）是包括免疫功能在内的关键生理过程中能量利用的重要介导因子。已有大量研究聚焦于能量限制与应激对繁殖、免疫等关键生理过程的影响。然而，目前尚不清楚应激如何在不同能量状态下改变能量利用方式，此类效应所带来的生理后果更是鲜有研究阐明。本研究以非频繁进食物种陆地束带蛇（Terrestrial Gartersnake，Thamnophis elegans）为研究对象，通过禁食与重复性束缚应激（慢性应激源）操控其能量与应激状态，旨在探究这两类挑战如何交互影响免疫功能、能量代谢物，以及机体对标准化急性束缚应激的糖皮质激素反应（应激状态的传统评价指标）。急性应激处理后，预先接受慢性应激处理的蛇类，其糖皮质激素反应性显著升高；两种处理方式均改变了能量代谢物的利用与储存状态。禁食与慢性应激处理对先天免疫功能及能量代谢物（甘油三酯与甘油）产生交互影响的证据表明，应激对能量利用的调控方式依赖于动物自身的能量状态。蛇类具备在应激条件下维持关键生理过程功能的卓越能力，但仍易受到多重同时存在的应激源影响——这种情况在不断变化的人类生存环境中愈发普遍。