Colocalization of immediate early genes in catecholamine cells after song exposure in female zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata).
Abstract
The physiological state of animals in many taxonomic groups can be modified via social interactions including simply receiving communication signals from conspecifics. Here, we explore whether the catecholaminergic system of female songbirds responds during social interactions that are limited to song reception. We measured the protein product of an immediate early gene (ZENK) within three catecholaminergic brain regions in song-exposed (n = 11) and silence-exposed (n = 6) female zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata). ZENK-ir induction was quantified in catecholamine cells as well as within cells of unknown phenotypes in three brain regions that synthesize catecholamines, the ventral tegmental area, the periaqueductal gray and the locus coeruleus (LoC). Our results reveal that there are no significant differences in the overall number of cells expressing ZENK between song- and silence-exposed females. However, when we limited our measurements to catecholamine-containing cells, we noticed a greater number of catecholamine-containing cells expressing ZENK within the LoC in the song-exposed females compared to silence-exposed females. Furthermore, we measured five behaviors during the song- and silence-exposed period, as behavioral ...Continue Reading
References
Citations
The incentive salience of courtship vocalizations: hormone-mediated 'wanting' in the auditory system
HVC lesions modify immediate early gene expression in auditory forebrain regions of female songbirds
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