'Photoperiod driven modulation of melatonin receptor and immune associated genes in migratory buntings'

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Presentation Time: 11:30 AM - 12:45 PM
Poster Board Number: B1025
Abstract ID: 4126

Presenting Author:
Shalie Malik , Academician and Researcher at Department of Zoology, University of Lucknow, Lucknow, India

Abstract:

Life on earth has evolved in a 24-hour-light-dark (day-night) cycle. Light-dark cycles synchronize the rhythmic changes in physiological processes, including the sleep-wake cycle and the immune responses. The transcriptional regulation of innate immune function across annual life history states (LHS) remains obscure in avian migrants. We, therefore, investigated the effect of sleep loss on the immune function in migratory redheaded bunting. The buntings were exposed to varying photoperiodic conditions to induce Non-migratory (NM), Pre-migratory (PM), Migratory (MIG) and Refractory (REF) states and their physiology, sleep behaviour and gene expression were studied. In the hypothalamus, we measured the mRNA expression of proinflammatory cytokines, glucocorticoid and melatonin receptors, calcium signalling pathway genes.  Life history dependent changes were observed in the sleep behavior. Higher expression of interleukin genes suggested inflammatory response triggered by the sleep loss in the migratory phase. The splenic mass and volume was reduced in long photoperiod. The expression of melatonin receptors and pro-inflammatory cytokines showed positive correlation which is suggestive of melatonin relaying the photophotoperiodic signal to peripheral immune organs.

Keywords: Avian migrant, bunting, immune function, life history states (LHS), melatonin, sleep behaviour

Funding Source: Research & Development State Grant, Uttar Pradesh, India