Androgens can affect the singing behavior via regulating the song control system. In the present study, the effect of androgen on the synaptic plasticity of high vocal center (HVC)-robust nucleus of the arcopallium (RA) pathway was investigated through electrophysiological recording in vivo. We divided the adult male zebra finches into control, castration and castration plus testosterone implantation groups. The changes of long-term depression (LTD) and the paired-pulse facilitation in HVC-RA pathway induced by high-frequency (400 Hz, 2 s) stimulation of HVC were recorded, respectively. The results showed that high-frequency stimulation could effectively induce LTD in control group, but only evoke short-term depression in the castration group. In castration plus testosterone implantation group, LTD was restored. The paired-pulse facilitation was not obvious in the castration group, whereas it was significantly improved in the control and castration plus testosterone implantation groups. These results suggest that androgens may maintain the stability of song by influencing the level of LTD in HVC-RA pathway in adult male zebra finches, and androgens can affect the short-term synaptic plasticity of HVC-RA pathway.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
In vivo online monitoring of testosterone-induced neuroplasticity in a female songbird.
Horm Behav
February 2020
Bio-Imaging Lab, University of Antwerp, Belgium. Electronic address:
Adult neuroplasticity in the song control system of seasonal songbirds is largely driven by photoperiod-induced increases in testosterone. Prior studies of the relationships between testosterone, song performance and neuroplasticity used invasive techniques, which prevent analyzing the dynamic changes over time and often focus on pre-defined regions-of-interest instead of examining the entire brain. Here, we combined (i) in vivo diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to assess structural neuroplasticity with (ii) repeated monitoring of song and (iii) measures of plasma testosterone concentrations in thirteen female photosensitive starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) who received a testosterone implant for 3 weeks.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMorphological characterization of HVC projection neurons in the zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata).
J Comp Neurol
July 2018
NYU Neuroscience Institute and Department of Otolaryngology, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York City, New York.
Singing behavior in the adult male zebra finch is dependent upon the activity of a cortical region known as HVC (proper name). The vast majority of HVC projection neurons send primary axons to either the downstream premotor nucleus RA (robust nucleus of the arcopallium, or primary motor cortex) or Area X (basal ganglia), which play important roles in song production or song learning, respectively. In addition to these long-range outputs, HVC neurons also send local axon collaterals throughout that nucleus.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF[Effects of androgens on the long-term depression of HVC-RA pathway in adult male zebra finches].
Sheng Li Xue Bao
August 2017
School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China.
Androgens can affect the singing behavior via regulating the song control system. In the present study, the effect of androgen on the synaptic plasticity of high vocal center (HVC)-robust nucleus of the arcopallium (RA) pathway was investigated through electrophysiological recording in vivo. We divided the adult male zebra finches into control, castration and castration plus testosterone implantation groups.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFForebrain circuits underlying the social modulation of vocal communication signals.
Dev Neurobiol
January 2016
Department of Biology, McGill University.
Across vertebrate species, signalers alter the structure of their communication signals based on the social context. For example, male Bengalese finches produce faster and more stereotyped songs when directing song to females (female-directed [FD] song) than when singing in isolation (undirected [UD] song), and such changes have been found to increase the attractiveness of a male's song. Despite the importance of such social influences, little is known about the mechanisms underlying the social modulation of communication signals.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAnatomically discrete sex differences in neuroplasticity in zebra finches as reflected by perineuronal nets.
PLoS One
January 2016
GIGA Neurosciences, Research group in Behavioral Neuroendocrinology, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium.
Large morphological sex differences in the vertebrate brain were initially identified in song control nuclei of oscines. Besides gross differences between volumes of nuclei in males and females, sex differences also concern the size and dendritic arborization of neurons and various neurochemical markers, such as the calcium-binding protein parvalbumin (PV). Perineuronal nets (PNN) of the extracellular matrix are aggregates of different compounds, mainly chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans, that surround subsets of neurons, often expressing PV.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!