Seasonal-like Growth and Regression of the Avian Song Control System: Neural and Behavioral Plasticity in Adult Male Gambel's White-crowned Sparrows

Overview

Journal Gen Comp Endocrinol

Specialty Endocrinology

Date 2008 May 7

PMID 18457836

Citations 15

Authors

John Meitzen

Christopher K Thompson

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Birdsong is regulated by a series of discrete brain nuclei known as the song control system. In seasonally-breeding male songbirds, seasonal changes in steroid sex hormones regulate the structure and electrophysiology of song control system neurons, resulting in dramatic changes in singing behavior. Male songbirds can be brought into the laboratory, where circulating levels of steroid hormone and photoperiod can be abruptly manipulated, providing controlled conditions under which rapid "seasonal-like" changes in behavior and morphology can be carefully studied. In this mini-review, we discuss the steroidal and cellular mechanisms underlying seasonal-like growth and regression of the song control system in adult male Gambel's white-crowned sparrows (Zonotrichia leucophrys gambelii), and its impact on song behavior. Specifically, we discuss recent advances concerning: (1) the role of androgen and estrogen receptors in inducing seasonal-like growth of the song control system; (2) how photoperiod modulates the time course of testosterone-induced growth of the song control system; (3) how bilateral intracerebral infusion of androgen and estrogen receptor antagonists near the song control nucleus HVC prevents seasonal-like increases in song stereotypy but not song rate; and (4) the steroidal and cellular mechanisms that mediate rapid regression of the song control system. Throughout this mini-review we compare data collected from white-crowned sparrows to that from other songbird species. We conclude by outlining avenues of future research.

Citing Articles

The gene regulates behavioural plasticity by repressing male courtship in butterflies.

Connahs H, Tan E, Ter Y, Dion E, Matsuoka Y, Bear A Proc Biol Sci. 2022; 289(1972):20212665.

PMID: 35382598 PMC: 8984812. DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2021.2665.

A quantitative analysis of cerebellar anatomy in birds.

Cunha F, Gutierrez-Ibanez C, Racicot K, Wylie D, Iwaniuk A Brain Struct Funct. 2021; 226(8):2561-2583.

PMID: 34357439 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-021-02352-2.

Dissociable Effects on Birdsong of Androgen Signaling in Cortex-Like Brain Regions of Canaries.

Alward B, Balthazart J, Ball G J Neurosci. 2017; 37(36):8612-8624.

PMID: 28821656 PMC: 5588457. DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3371-16.2017.

Pleiotropic Control by Testosterone of a Learned Vocal Behavior and Its Underlying Neuroplasticity(1,2,3).

Alward B, Madison F, Parker S, Balthazart J, Ball G eNeuro. 2016; 3(1).

PMID: 26835510 PMC: 4724066. DOI: 10.1523/ENEURO.0145-15.2016.

Castration modulates singing patterns and electrophysiological properties of RA projection neurons in adult male zebra finches.

Wang S, Liao C, Li F, Liu S, Meng W, Li D PeerJ. 2014; 2:e352.

PMID: 24765586 PMC: 3994634. DOI: 10.7717/peerj.352.

References

Brenowitz E, Lent K . Afferent input is necessary for seasonal growth and maintenance of adult avian song control circuits. J Neurosci. 2001; 21(7):2320-9. PMC: 6762386. View

Tramontin A, Hartman V, Brenowitz E . Breeding conditions induce rapid and sequential growth in adult avian song control circuits: a model of seasonal plasticity in the brain. J Neurosci. 2000; 20(2):854-61. PMC: 6772392. View

Tramontin A, Perfito N, Wingfield J, Brenowitz E . Seasonal growth of song control nuclei precedes seasonal reproductive development in wild adult song sparrows. Gen Comp Endocrinol. 2001; 122(1):1-9. DOI: 10.1006/gcen.2000.7597. View

Arnold A, Nottebohm F, Pfaff D . Hormone concentrating cells in vocal control and other areas of the brain of the zebra finch ( Poephila guttata). J Comp Neurol. 1976; 165(4):487-511. DOI: 10.1002/cne.901650406. View

Peterson R, Yarram L, Schlinger B, Saldanha C . Aromatase is pre-synaptic and sexually dimorphic in the adult zebra finch brain. Proc Biol Sci. 2005; 272(1576):2089-96. PMC: 1559905. DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2005.3181. View

Dawson A . The effects of a single long photoperiod on induction and dissipation of reproductive photorefractoriness in European starlings. Gen Comp Endocrinol. 2001; 121(3):316-24. DOI: 10.1006/gcen.2001.7601. View

Tramontin A, Wingfield J, Brenowitz E . Androgens and estrogens induce seasonal-like growth of song nuclei in the adult songbird brain. J Neurobiol. 2003; 57(2):130-40. DOI: 10.1002/neu.10263. View

Johnson F, Bottjer S . Hormone-induced changes in identified cell populations of the higher vocal center in male canaries. J Neurobiol. 1993; 24(3):400-18. DOI: 10.1002/neu.480240311. View

Thompson C, Bentley G, Brenowitz E . Rapid seasonal-like regression of the adult avian song control system. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2007; 104(39):15520-5. PMC: 2000488. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0707239104. View

10.

Meitzen J, Perkel D, Brenowitz E . Seasonal changes in intrinsic electrophysiological activity of song control neurons in wild song sparrows. J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol. 2007; 193(6):677-83. DOI: 10.1007/s00359-007-0222-1. View

11.

Deviche P, Martin R, Small T, Sharp P . Testosterone induces testicular development but reduces GnRH-I fiber density in the brain of the House Finch, Carpodacus mexicanus. Gen Comp Endocrinol. 2006; 147(2):167-74. DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2005.12.024. View

12.

Meitzen J, Moore I, Lent K, Brenowitz E, Perkel D . Steroid hormones act transsynaptically within the forebrain to regulate neuronal phenotype and song stereotypy. J Neurosci. 2007; 27(44):12045-57. PMC: 6673362. DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3289-07.2007. View

13.

Thompson C, Brenowitz E . Seasonal change in neuron size and spacing but not neuronal recruitment in a basal ganglia nucleus in the avian song control system. J Comp Neurol. 2004; 481(3):276-83. DOI: 10.1002/cne.20381. View

14.

Smith G, Brenowitz E, Prins G . Use of PG-21 immunocytochemistry to detect androgen receptors in the songbird brain. J Histochem Cytochem. 1996; 44(9):1075-80. DOI: 10.1177/44.9.8773574. View

15.

Hidalgo A, Barami K, Iversen K, Goldman S . Estrogens and non-estrogenic ovarian influences combine to promote the recruitment and decrease the turnover of new neurons in the adult female canary brain. J Neurobiol. 1995; 27(4):470-87. DOI: 10.1002/neu.480270404. View

16.

Soma K, Tramontin A, Featherstone J, Brenowitz E . Estrogen contributes to seasonal plasticity of the adult avian song control system. J Neurobiol. 2004; 58(3):413-22. DOI: 10.1002/neu.10288. View

17.

Park K, Meitzen J, Moore I, Brenowitz E, Perkel D . Seasonal-like plasticity of spontaneous firing rate in a songbird pre-motor nucleus. J Neurobiol. 2005; 64(2):181-91. DOI: 10.1002/neu.20145. View

18.

Saldanha C, Deviche P, Silver R . Increased VIP and decreased GnRH expression in photorefractory dark-eyed juncos (Junco hyemalis). Gen Comp Endocrinol. 1994; 93(1):128-36. DOI: 10.1006/gcen.1994.1015. View

19.

Soma K, Hartman V, Wingfield J, Brenowitz E . Seasonal changes in androgen receptor immunoreactivity in the song nucleus HVc of a wild bird. J Comp Neurol. 1999; 409(2):224-36. View

20.

Ramsden M, Shin T, Pike C . Androgens modulate neuronal vulnerability to kainate lesion. Neuroscience. 2003; 122(3):573-8. DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2003.08.048. View