The role of parasite-induced immunodepression, rank and social environment in the modulation of behaviour and hormone concentration in male laboratory mice (Mus musculus)

Peripheral immune responsiveness in male laboratory mice was reduced by infection with the trichostrongyloid nematode Heligmosomoides polygyrus. Responsiveness was also lower among high-ranking (aggressive) males regardless of infection status. Reduced responsiveness in both infected animals and high rankers was associated with elevated serum corticosterone concentration (a potential immunodepressant) and was compounded among high-ranking males by subsequent high aggressiveness. As in previous experiments, only low rankers modulated testosterone secretion in relation to current immunocompetence and corticosterone concentration. The lack of any downregulation of aggression in response to parasite-induced immunodepression contrasted with previous results using antithymocyte serum and may be due to the more localized nature of immunodepression during N. polygyrus infection. However, the additional increase in corticosterone concentration resulting from exposure to female odour and destabilized aggressive social relationships did result in downregulation of aggression among high rankers and of testosterone among mice generally, suggesting that modulation rules of thumb are at least partly dependent on the proximate cues associated with immunodepression.