Immune Activation Suppresses Plasma Testosterone Level; A Meta-Analysis

Main Category: Biology / Biochemistry
Also Included In: Veterinary
Article Date: 13 Aug 2008 - 6:00 PDT

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Males of many species attract females with sexual displays and ornaments. What causes some males to signal at lower rates than others?

Signaling intensity is under the influence of testosterone, and we show that activation of the immune system result in lower testosterone levels.

Thus males that have more infections have lower testosterone, and hence signal at a lower rate.

Thus females can select healthy fathers on the basis of sexual displays, explaining also why they pay attention to these displays.

Royal Society journal Biology Letters

Biology Letters publishes short, innovative and cutting-edge research articles and opinion pieces accessible to scientists from across the biological sciences. The journal is characterised by stringent peer-review, rapid publication and broad dissemination of succinct high-quality research communications.

Biology Letters