The effect of lutein and testosterone on the oxidative stress status of Magpie (Pica pica) nestlings

Abstract

In life-history trade-off hypothesis, the benefit gained in early life is compensated by the cost in later life. Modulating the oxidative stress is proposed as the key mechanism that controls the life-history trait. It is also suggested that carotenoid acts as an antioxidant that reduces the oxidative stress and testosterone acts as a prooxidant that increases the oxidative stress. While it has taken the increasing interest, little is known about the long-effect of oxidative stress in wild animals. In this study, I examined the role of testosterone and carotenoid in controlling the oxidative stress first. Then monitored the relationship between oxidative stress and long-term fitness in the nestlings of black-billed magpies (Pica pica). The results showed that there was not a correlation between carotenoid, testosterone, and antioxidant capacity as predicted. I also found that the antioxidant capacity was positively correlated with the later fitness, the nestlings with higher antioxidant capacity displaying the higher survival rate. It supports the hypothesis that oxidative stress modulates the fitness of later stage in life-history