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Phytohemagglutinin-induced skin swelling in birds: histological support for a classic immunoecological technique

  1. L. B. MARTIN II1,2,*,
  2. P. HAN1,
  3. J. LEWITTES1,
  4. J. R. KUHLMAN2,
  5. K. C. KLASING3,
  6. M. WIKELSKI1

Article first published online: 19 APR 2006

DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2435.2006.01094.x

Issue

Functional Ecology

Functional Ecology

Volume 20, Issue 2, pages 290–299, April 2006

Additional Information

How to Cite

MARTIN, L. B., HAN, P., LEWITTES, J., KUHLMAN, J. R., KLASING, K. C. and WIKELSKI, M. (2006), Phytohemagglutinin-induced skin swelling in birds: histological support for a classic immunoecological technique. Functional Ecology, 20: 290–299. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2435.2006.01094.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Princeton University, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton, NJ 08544,

  2. 2

    The Ohio State University, Department of Psychology, Columbus OH 43210

  3. 3

    University of California Davis, Department of Animal Science, Davis, CA 95616, USA

* †Author to whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: lmartin@mail.psy.ohio-state.edu

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 19 APR 2006
  2. Article first published online: 19 APR 2006
  3. Received 6 September 2005; revised 6 December 2005; accepted 8 December 2005 Editor: C. Fox

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Keywords:

  • cell-mediated;
  • DTH;
  • immune;
  • Passer;
  • trade-off

Summary

  • 1
    Measurements of phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-induced tissue swelling are arguably the most popular surrogates for immunocompetence in wild birds. It is largely unresolved, however, whether the basic assumption underlying these measures is valid, particularly whether more swelling represents a ‘better’ or ‘stronger’ cell-mediated immune response.
  • 2
    In this study we took a first step towards such validation by characterizing immune cell infiltration over time into the wing-webs (patagia) of PHA-challenged House Sparrows (Passer domesticus). Relative to saline-injected wing-webs, PHA-injected wing-webs displayed intensive infiltration of many immune cell types, including basophils, eosinophils, heterophils, lymphocytes, macrophages and thrombocytes. The abundance of most of these cell types changed over the course of the swelling response (6–48 h post-injection). Peak infiltration time varied depending on cell type. At several time points, significant correlations between the numbers of some cell types (particularly heterophils) and the degree of swelling were detected.
  • 3
    Together, these data indicate that PHA-induced swelling is related to heightened immune cell activity in House Sparrows, but also that the PHA swelling response in this species is dynamic and involves both innate and adaptive components of the immune system. We thus caution against interpreting larger swellings as ‘greater cell-mediated immunocompetence’, given the complex nature of this immune response.
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