Presentation Details
| Hot headed: Immune-related gene expression following a heat challenge in the nestling tree swallow brain Liliana Sosnowski1, Mary Woodruff3, Megan Murphy2, Kimberly A.Rosvall2, Emily J.Levy1. 1Sacred Heart University, Fairfield, CT, USA.2Indiana University Bloomington, Bloomington, IN, USA.3Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Chicago, IL, USA |
Abstract
Understanding how climate stressors affect development can help us assess persistence. However, in endotherms, little is known about physiological effects of elevated heat on the brain. Heat exposure may induce immune stress to maintain homeostasis. Here, we investigate changes in immune gene expression in the brain of nestling tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor), following an experimental heat challenge. We hypothesize that, in the hippocampus, heat exposure will result in upregulation of immune-related genes to maintain homeostasis. When nestlings were 12 days old, nest temperatures were experimentally elevated by 4.5°C for 4 hours. We then extracted the hippocampi and measured expression of several immune genes: TNFa, IL6 receptor, glucocorticoid receptor, and heat-shock protein 90AA1. Preliminary analyses suggest that these genes were positively correlated with each other, suggesting co-regulation, and that the heat treatment did not broadly affect gene expression in the brain, suggesting that other mechanisms may buffer tree swallows against heat waves. By studying the activation of these genes, we can better understand endotherm neurophysiological responses to heat exposure.
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No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author.
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