【摘要】 为了研究种群密度对布氏田鼠 (Microtusbrandti)免疫功能的影响 ,我们以分别取自稳定的同性别饲养群的成年布氏田鼠为对象 ,测定了雌性和雄性个体在低 (1只 /笼 )、中 (4只 /笼 )、高 (8只 /笼 ) 3个饲养密度梯度下的生长及免疫指标 ,包括体重、睾丸重、脾脏重、血清抗体及皮质醇含量等。结果发现 :(1)随着密度的升高 ,布氏田鼠的体重和雄性睾丸的重量有所降低 ;(2 )中密度和高密度饲养条件下雌性的免疫水平高于低密度个体 ,但密度对雄性个体的免疫状况影响不大 ;(3)不同密度饲养条件下布氏田鼠血清中的皮质醇含量没有显著差异。这些结果表明 ,和睦稳定的种内关系未必对布氏田鼠造成社群压力 ,但密度能够影响布氏田鼠的生长、繁殖和免疫状况 ,而且这些影响存在着性别差异.更多还原

【Abstract】 In order to determine the relationship between population density and immune function in Brand’s voles (Microtus brandti), we investigated the effects of low (1 animal/cage), moderate (4 animals/cage) and high (8 animals/cage) density on the growth and immune functions of male and female adult Brand’s voles from a long-term, stable same-sex groups. Body weight, spleen weight, testis weight, levels of serum antibodies and serum cortisol were measured. We found that: (1) final body weights and male reproductive organ weights decreased with increasing density; (2) female Brandt’s voles in the moderate and high density groups had better immune function than those at low density, but the immune functions of male individuals were not significantly affected by density; (3) density had no significant effect on the serum cortisol levels of both male and female voles. These results suggest that a long-term stable and harmonious social environment does not necessarily cause social stress in Brandt’s voles. Population density can affect the growth, reproduction and immunity of Brandt’s voles and these effects differ between the sexes.更多还原