A method for investigating spatiotemporal growth patterns at cell and tissue levels during C-looping in the embryonic chick heart.

We developed a workflow using multi-scale and multi-disciplinary experimental and computational approaches to analyze C-looping (the first phase of cardiac looping) of the chick across four developing hearts. We provide the first 3D datasets for the C-looping heart with cell to organism level information, including datasets of heart images and segmented myocardial cells within the heart. We used these datasets to investigate, as a proof-of-concept, the differential spatiotemporal patterns of growth at both the cellular and tissue levels, and demonstrate how geometrical changes of C-looping at the tissue level are linked to growth features at the cellular level.

Auditory processing in the zebra finch midbrain: single unit responses and effect of rearing experience.

In birds the auditory system plays a key role in providing the sensory input used to discriminate between conspecific and heterospecific vocal signals. In those species that are known to learn their vocalizations, for example, songbirds, it is generally considered that this ability arises and is manifest in the forebrain, although there is no a priori reason why brainstem components of the auditory system could not also play an important part. To test this assumption, we used groups of normal reared and cross-fostered zebra finches that had previously been shown in behavioural experiments to reduce their preference for conspecific songs subsequent to cross fostering experience with Bengalese finches, a related species with a distinctly different song.

The Structural Development of the Mouse Dorsal Cochlear Nucleus.

The dorsal cochlear nucleus (DCN) is a major subdivision of the mammalian cochlear nucleus (CN) that is thought to be involved in sound localization in the vertical plane and in feature extraction of sound stimuli. The main principal cell type (pyramidal cells) integrates auditory and non-auditory inputs, which are considered to be important in performing sound localization tasks. This study aimed to investigate the histological development of the CD-1 mouse DCN, focussing on the postnatal period spanning the onset of hearing (P12).

Perineuronal satellite neuroglia in the telencephalon of New Caledonian crows and other Passeriformes: evidence of satellite glial cells in the central nervous system of healthy birds?

Glia have been implicated in a variety of functions in the central nervous system, including the control of the neuronal extracellular space, synaptic plasticity and transmission, development and adult neurogenesis. Perineuronal glia forming groups around neurons are associated with both normal and pathological nervous tissue. Recent studies have linked reduction in the number of perineuronal oligodendrocytes in the prefrontal cortex with human schizophrenia and other psychiatric disorders.

Morphometric analysis of telencephalic structure in a variety of neognath and paleognath bird species reveals regional differences associated with specific behavioral traits.

Birds exhibit a huge array of behavior, ecology and physiology, and occupy nearly every environment on earth, ranging from the desert outback of Australia to the tropical rain forests of Panama. Some birds have adopted a fully nocturnal lifestyle, such as the barn owl and kiwi, while others, such as the albatross, spend nearly their entire life flying over the ocean. Each species has evolved unique adaptations over millions of years to function in their respective niche.