Effects of corticosterone treatment and wound healing on reproductive traits of American bullfrogs.

During reproductive season, calling anuran males display high testosterone (T) and episodically high corticosterone (CORT) plasma levels, which are positively associated with higher calling rates and immunocompetence. However, exposure to constant stress stimuli can result in chronically elevated CORT levels, possibly leading to inhibition of reproductive and immune activity. Reproduction and immune responses are energetically expensive, so when an animal is immunologically challenged, a tradeoff might be expressed, with CORT potentially mediating it.