Long flights and age affect oxidative status of homing pigeons(Columba livia)
Open Access
- 1 February 2008
- journal article
- Published by The Company of Biologists in Journal of Experimental Biology
- Vol. 211 (3), 377-381
- https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.012856
Abstract
Flying is an energy demanding activity that imposes several physiological challenges on birds, such as increase in energy expenditure. Evidence from sports medicine shows that exhausting exercise may cause oxidative stress. Studies on avian flight have so far considered several blood parameters, such as uric acid, corticosteroids, or circulating free fatty acids, but only one study has analysed markers of oxidative stress in flying birds. In this study, we evaluated, for the first time, how different flight efforts affect the oxidative status using homing pigeons (Columba livia) as a model species. Two groups of pigeons flew for around 60 and 200 km, respectively. Pigeons that flew for 200 km had a 54% increase in oxidative damage as measured by serum reactive oxygen metabolites (ROMs), a 19% drop in total serum antioxidant capacity (OXY) and an 86% increase of oxidative stress (ROMs/OXY×1000). Older pigeons depleted more serum antioxidants regardless of the release distance. Among pigeons that flew the longer distance, heavier ones depleted less serum antioxidants. The results of the study suggest that long flights may cause oxidative stress, and that older individuals may experience higher physiological demands.Keywords
This publication has 50 references indexed in Scilit:
- Avian senescence: underlying mechanismsJournal of Ornithology, 2007
- Carotenoid availability does not limit the capability of nestling kestrels (Falco tinnunculus) to cope with oxidative stressJournal of Experimental Biology, 2007
- An integrated view of oxidative stress in aging: basic mechanisms, functional effects, and pathological considerationsAmerican Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology, 2007
- Birds sacrifice oxidative protection for reproductionProceedings Of The Royal Society B-Biological Sciences, 2004
- Increased susceptibility to oxidative stress as a proximate cost of reproductionEcology Letters, 2004
- In the defence against hyperglycaemia: an avian strategyWorld's Poultry Science Journal, 1999
- Flight Effects on Plasma Levels of Free Fatty Acids, Growth Hormone and Thyroid Hormones in Homing PigeonsHormone and Metabolic Research, 1988
- Avian Flight EnergeticsAnnual Review of Physiology, 1982
- Uric acid provides an antioxidant defense in humans against oxidant- and radical-caused aging and cancer: a hypothesis.Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 1981
- Energy Metabolism and Theoretical Flight Range of BirdsBird-Banding, 1967