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Effects of testosterone and β‐glucan on immune functions in tench
Author(s) -
Vainikka A.,
Jokinen E. I.,
Kortet R.,
Paukku S.,
Pirhonen J.,
Rantala M. J.,
Taskinen J.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
journal of fish biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.672
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1095-8649
pISSN - 0022-1112
DOI - 10.1111/j.0022-1112.2005.00598.x
Subject(s) - testosterone (patch) , biology , medicine , endocrinology , spleen , immune system , basal (medicine) , lytic cycle , hormone , kidney , immunology , virus , insulin
A hormone manipulation was performed to examine the effects of testosterone on basal and β‐glucan‐induced immune functions in wild‐caught male and female tench Tinca tinca . Testosterone administration elevated testosterone concentration in plasma, but did not suppress lytic activity of plasma or the chemiluminescence response of blood or head kidney phagocytes in any of the three successive samples or in any of the treatment groups. Both testosterone and β‐glucan administrations had a negative effect on the relative mass of the spleen, and testosterone‐treated fish lost more mass than control fish. Males had a relatively larger spleen than females, but there were no gender differences in immune function. β‐glucan‐administration did not affect the plasma testosterone concentration.