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Seasonal variations in spleen mass and delay hypersensitivity responses of root voles (Microtus oeconomus)in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

BIAN Jianghui CAO Yifan WU Yan JING Zengchun   

  1. N orthwest Plateau Institute of Biology,the Chinese Academy of Sciences,Xining 810001,China
  • Online:2008-10-08 Published:2008-07-07

青藏高原地区根田鼠脾脏重量及迟发性超敏反应的季节性变化

边疆晖 曹伊凡 吴雁 景增春   

  1. 中国科学院西北高原生物研究所,西宁 810001

Abstract: Animal’s immune functions are not only closely associated with environmental conditions but also may play a role in regulating population dynamics. The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau has a severe and long cold season (September - April) and short warm season (May - August). To explore seasonal variations in immune function of root voles (Microtus oeconomus), we captured root voles monthly by using live-trap methods from May 2006 to April 2007 at the Haibei Research Station of Alpine Meadow Ecosystem,the Chinese Academy of Science,and monitored spleen mass and delay hypersensitivity induced by dinitrofluorobenzene. To examine the variation of immune parameters in the cold season,it was divided into cold season 1 (September -october,2006),cold season 2 (November,2006 - January,2007)and cold season 3 (February - April,2007). Individual’s spleen mass and delay hypersensitivity response in cold season 1 did not significantly differ from those in warm season,but the spleen index in cold season 2 and cold season 3 was significantly reduced compared to cold season 1 and warm season,respectively. Individual’s delay hypersensitivity response in cold season 3 was also significantly lower than those in cold season 1 and warm season,respectively. Age differences in spleen mass were found during the cold season 2,with sub-adults having smaller spleen weights compare to adults. The results show that immune function of root voles is gradually reduced during the cold season. We suggest that low temperature in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau may be responsible for the seasonal variation in immune parameters. Our results also suggest that the age difference in immune function may play an important role in population auto-regulation for root voles.

Key words: Delay hypersensitivity Qinghai-Tibet Plateau Root vole (Microtus oeconomus) Season Spleen

摘要: 动物的免疫功能不仅与外部环境条件有密切关系,而且可能在种群调节中有重要作用。为探讨青藏高原地区根田鼠免疫功能的季节性变化,我们在中国科学院海北高寒草甸生态系统定位站地区,从2006 年5 月至2007 年4 月,逐月捕获根田鼠,测定其脾脏重量及二硝基氟苯诱导的迟发性超敏反应。冷季1 (2006 年9 ~10月)个体的脾脏指数及迟发性超敏反应与暖季(2006 年4 ~8 月)个体之间无显著差异,但冷季2 (2006 年11月至2007 年1 月)和冷季3 (2007 月2 ~ 4 月)个体脾脏指数、以及冷季3 个体的迟发性超敏反应均显著低于冷季1 和暖季个体,表明根田鼠免疫功能随冷季而显著降低。此外,冷季2 不同年龄个体间的脾脏指数呈显著差异。我们认为,青藏高原冷季低温是影响根田鼠免疫功能季节性变化的主要因素,且冷季2 不同年龄个体免疫功能的差异对根田鼠种群自动调节具有重要的作用。

关键词: 青藏高原 根田鼠 脾脏 迟发性超敏反应 季节