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Biol Lett

Title:		Female Iberian wall lizards prefer male scents that signal a better cell-mediated immune response
Author(s):		Lopez P; Martin J;
Address:		"Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC, Departamento de Ecologia Evolutiva, Jose Gutierrez Abascal 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain. pilar.lopez@mncn.csic.es"
Journal Title:		Biol Lett
Year:		2005
Volume:		1
Issue:		4
Page Number:		404 - 406
DOI:		10.1098/rsbl.2005.0360
ISSN/ISBN:		1744-9561 (Print) 1744-957X (Electronic) 1744-9561 (Linking)
Abstract:		"In spite of the importance of chemoreception in sexual selection of lizards, only a few studies have examined the composition of chemical signals, and it is unknown whether and how chemicals provide honest information. Chemical signals might be honest if there were a trade-off between sexual advertisement and the immune system. Here, we show that proportions of cholesta-5,7-dien-3-ol in femoral secretions of male Iberian wall lizards (Podarcis hispanica) were related to their T-cell-mediated immune response. Thus, only males with a good immune system may allocate higher amounts of this chemical to signalling. Furthermore, females selected scents of males with higher proportions of cholesta-5,7-dien-3-ol and lower proportions of cholesterol. Thus, females might base their mate choice on the males' quality as indicated by the composition of their chemical signals"
Keywords:		"Animals Cholesterol/metabolism Dehydrocholesterols/metabolism Female Lizards/immunology/*physiology Male *Mating Preference, Animal Sex Attractants/*chemistry T-Lymphocytes/*immunology;"
Notes:		"MedlineLopez, Pilar Martin, Jose eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't England 2006/12/07 Biol Lett. 2005 Dec 22; 1(4):404-6. doi: 10.1098/rsbl.2005.0360"