Evaluating the Effects of Stressors on Immune Function during Simulated Dives in Marine Mammals

• Main Authors: Romano, Tracy, Thompson, Laura
• Other Authors: MYSTIC AQUARIUM AND INST FOR EXPLORATION CT
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 2013
• Subjects: Biochemistry; Biology; Stress Physiology; *DIVING; *IMMUNOLOGY; *LYMPHOCYTES; *PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS; *RESPONSE(BIOLOGY); *SEALS(MAMMALS); *STRESS(PHYSIOLOGY); *WHALES; BLOOD ANALYSIS; COMPRESSION; COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION; DECOMPRESSION; HORMONES; HUMANS; PRESSURE; RETICULOENDOTHELIAL SYSTEM; UNDERWATER SOUND; *IMMUNE SYSTEM RESPONSE; *IMMUNE CELL RESPONSE; *BELUGA WHALES; *CELLULAR IMMUNE FUNCTION; STRANDED SEALS; RELEASED SEALS; IMMUNE FUNCTION RESPONSE; SIMULATED DIVES; PHAGOCYTOSIS; NEUTROPHIL ACTIVATION; LYMPHOCYTE ACTIVATION; LYMPHOCYTE PROLIFERATION; WILD BELUGA WHALES; AQUARIUM BELUGA WHALES; NEUTROPHIL PHAGOCYTOSIS; NEUTROPHIL EXPRESSION OF CD11B; T CELL EXPRESSION OF IL2 RECEPTOR; COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS; Beluga; Beluga*
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA599702; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA599702

The overall goals of this research are to investigate the response of marine mammal immune cells to simulated dives, and to evaluate the effects of stressors on this response. The study will investigate both innate and acquired immune function in both beluga whales and seals in response to challenges associated with diving (i.e., pressure), both with and without the presence of an additional stressor. The specific objectives of this effort are as follows: (1) to investigate the effects of simulated dive exposures on cellular immune function in beluga whales, (2) to evaluate the effects of simulated dive exposures on cellular immune function following a known stressor event, (3) to collect biological samples from wild belugas to compare with aquarium whales, and (4) to compare the effects of simulated dive exposures on cellular immune function in seals between stranding (stressor) and release (healthy).