Seasonal changes in the densities of alpha(2) noradrenergic receptors are inversely related to changes in testosterone and the volumes of song control nuclei in male European starlings.
Seasonal changes in the densities of alpha(2) noradrenergic receptors are inversely related to changes in testosterone and the volumes of song control nuclei in male European starlings.
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雄性欧洲椋鸟α(2)去甲肾上腺素能受体密度的季节性变化与睾酮和鸣叫控制核体积的变化呈负相关。
DOI：
10.1002/cne.10131
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发表时间：
2002
期刊：
影响因子：
--
通讯作者：
Ball,GregoryF
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Riters,LaurenV;Eens,Marcel;Pinxten,Rianne;Ball,GregoryF
在雄性欧洲椋鸟中，歌声的功能和引起歌声的背景线索与睾酮（T）浓度的季节性变化平行。T是高的，在春季时，至少有一个功能的男性歌曲是立即交配的吸引力，低的背景下繁殖，当椋鸟主要使用歌曲的优势或羊群维护。控制歌声的几个脑核团含有高密度的α2-肾上腺素能受体。T可以调节鸟类大脑中α2-肾上腺素能受体的密度，表明鸣唱系统中α2-肾上腺素能受体的密度可能会发生季节性变化。虽然季节性脑变化的功能还不完全清楚，但在许多鸣禽中，当T高时，鸣禽核团的体积最大，雄性鸣禽最多。然而，雄性椋鸟在T高和T低的时候都会唱歌。因此，探索T和歌曲核体积的季节性变化可以深入了解这些变化的功能。本研究旨在探讨雄性椋鸟鸣唱系统中T、鸣唱核团体积和α2-肾上腺素能受体密度之间的关系。在繁殖季节，歌唱核（高发声中心[HVc]、原始纹状体[RA]的强健核和X区）最大，T最高，α2-肾上腺素能受体（HVc和RA内）的密度最低。相反的模式，观察繁殖季节以外。这些结果表明，T、鸣唱核团体积和α2受体密度的变化可能调节鸣唱行为的季节性变化，或者调节雄性椋鸟鸣唱的环境。J. Comp.神经元444：63-74，2002.© 2002 Wiley利斯公司
The functions of song and the contextual cues that elicit song change seasonally in parallel with testosterone (T) concentrations in male European starlings. T is high in spring when at least one function of male song is that of immediate mate attraction, and low outside the context of breeding, when starlings primarily use song for dominance or flock maintenance. Several brain nuclei that control song contain high densities of α2‐adrenergic receptors. T can regulate the density of α2‐adrenergic receptors in the avian brain, indicating that the density of α2‐adrenergic receptors within the song system might change seasonally. Although the function of seasonal brain variation is not entirely clear, in many songbirds the volumes of song nuclei are largest when T is high and males sing most. Male starlings, however, sing both when T is high and when T is low. Therefore, exploring seasonal changes in T and the volumes of song nuclei could provide insight into the function of these changes. The present study was performed to explore the relationships among T, the volumes of song nuclei, and the densities of α2‐adrenergic receptors within the song system of male starlings. Song nuclei (the high vocal center [HVc], robust nucleus of the archistriatum [RA], and Area X) were largest, T was highest, and the density of α2‐adrenergic receptors (within HVc and RA) was lowest during the breeding season. The reverse pattern was observed outside of the breeding season. These results suggest that changes in T, volumes of song nuclei, and α2‐receptor densities might regulate seasonal changes in song behavior or the context that will elicit song in male starlings. J. Comp. Neurol. 444:63–74, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.