Brain androgen receptor expression correlates with seasonal changes in the behavior of a weakly electric fish, Brachyhypopomus gauderio

Pouso, Paula; Quintana, Laura; Bolatto, Carmen; Silva, Ana C.

doi:10.1016/j.yhbeh.2010.07.005

Cited by 35 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 59 publications

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“…As the pattern of emission of the electromotor output in electric fish is itself a social display [as it signals species, sex, season, status, male quality and social context (Silva et al, 2007;Perrone et al, 2009;Gavassa et al, 2012)], which relies on the activity of a well-known and accessible medullary medial nucleus (the PN) (Pouso et al, 2010;Quintana et al, 2011a;Quintana et al, 2011b), electric fish appear as a good model system to target specific brain areas of AVT actions. In a previous study, Perrone et al (Perrone et al, 2010) demonstrated that AVT induced a long-lasting and progressive increase of EOD rate in isolated B. gauderio, but had no effects in G. omarorum.…”

Section: Differential Avt Modulation Of Two Types Of Aggressionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neuromodulation of the agonistic behavior in two species of weakly electric fish that display different types of aggression

Silva

Perrone

Zubizarreta

et al. 2013

Journal of Experimental Biology

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SummaryAgonistic behavior has shaped sociality across evolution. Though extremely diverse in types of displays and timing, agonistic encounters always follow the same conserved phases (evaluation, contest and post-resolution) and depend on homologous neural circuits modulated by the same neuroendocrine mediators across vertebrates. Among neuromodulators, serotonin (5-HT) is the main inhibitor of aggression, and arginine vasotocin (AVT) underlies sexual, individual and social context differences in behavior across vertebrate taxa. We aim to demonstrate that a distinct spatio-temporal pattern of activation of the social behavior network characterizes each type of aggression by exploring its modulation by both the 5-HT and AVT systems. We analyze the neuromodulation of aggression between the intermale reproduction-related aggression displayed by the gregarious Brachyhypopomus gauderio and the non-breeding intrasexual and intersexual territorial aggression displayed by the solitary Gymnotus omarorum. Differences in the telencephalic activity of 5-HT between species were paralleled by a differential serotonergic modulation through 1A receptors that inhibited aggression in the territorial aggression of G. omarorum but not in the reproduction-related aggression of B. gauderio. AVT injection increased the motivation towards aggression in the territorial aggression of G. omarorum but not in the reproduction-related aggression of B. gauderio, whereas the electric submission and dominance observed in G. omarorum and B. gauderio, respectively, were both AVT-dependent in a distinctive way. The advantages of our model species allowed us to identify precise target areas and mechanisms of the neuromodulation of two types of aggression that may represent more general and conserved strategies of the control of social behavior among vertebrates.

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Section: Differential Avt Modulation Of Two Types Of Aggressionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neuromodulation of the agonistic behavior in two species of weakly electric fish that display different types of aggression

Silva

Perrone

Zubizarreta

et al. 2013

Journal of Experimental Biology

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“…Perhaps the effect of social competition on androgen levels is sensitive to time in the breeding season. Nonetheless, we did find an increase in EOD duration, which is regulated by androgens Pouso et al 2010;. It is possible that the change in signal duration we found in the lab resulted from a small change in androgen levels that we failed to detect.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 62%

“…However, I was unable to replicate this finding in the lab. Nonetheless, I did find an increase in EOD duration, which is regulated by androgens Pouso et al, 2010;. Enhancements of EOD duration are mediated by androgens in conjunction with melanocortins , and are particularly stimulated by intrasexual competition.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 64%

“…Under male-male competition, males increase in circulating levels of T and 11-KT ) and further increase EOD amplitude and second phase duration ). Treating males with T or 11-KT mimics the effects of long-term social interaction on the duration of EOD (Silva et al 1999;Pouso et al 2010;, while 11-KT treatment slightly increases EOD amplitude . The duration of the female EOD also increases with androgen administration ), as shown in other pulse-type electric fish with sexually dimorphic second phase extension .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Social and Environmental Regulation of Signal Plasticity and Signal Reliability in the Electric Fish Brachyhypopomus gauderio

Becerra¹

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“…Females in the field increase EOD second phase duration and androgen levels in proportion to intrasexual competition (Table2) (Gavassa et al, 2012a). However, in the laboratory, female intrasexual competition increases EOD second phase duration without detectable changes in androgen levels (Gavassa et al, 2012a), although experimental increase of androgen levels reliably and consistently increases EOD duration in both sexes (Allee et al, 2009;Gavassa et al, 2011;Goldina et al, 2011;Pouso et al, 2010;Silva et al, 2002).…”

Section: Is Female Eod Plasticity Functionally Similar To That Of Males?mentioning

confidence: 96%

Behavioral ecology, endocrinology and signal reliability of electric communication

Gavassa

Goldina

Silva

et al. 2013

Journal of Experimental Biology

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SummaryThe balance between the costs and benefits of conspicuous animal communication signals ensures that signal expression relates to the quality of the bearer. Signal plasticity enables males to enhance conspicuous signals to impress mates and competitors and to reduce signal expression to lower energetic and predation-related signaling costs when competition is low. While signal plasticity may benefit the signaler, it can compromise the reliability of the information conveyed by the signals. In this paper we review the effect of signal plasticity on the reliability of the electrocommunication signal of the gymnotiform fish Brachyhypopomus gauderio. We (1) summarize the endocrine regulation of signal plasticity, (2) explore the regulation of signal plasticity in females, (3) examine the information conveyed by the signal, (4) show how that information changes when the signal changes, and (5) consider the energetic strategies used to sustain expensive signaling. The electric organ discharge (EOD) of B. gauderio changes in response to social environment on two time scales. Two hormone classes, melanocortins and androgens, underlie the short-term and long-term modulation of signal amplitude and duration observed during social interaction. Population density drives signal amplitude enhancement, unexpectedly improving the reliability with which the signal predicts the signalerʼs size. The signalʼs second phase elongation predicts androgen levels and male reproductive condition. Males sustain signal enhancement with dietary intake, but when food is limited, they ʻgo for brokeʼ and put extra energy into electric signals. Cortisol diminishes EOD parameters, but energy-limited males offset cortisol effects by boosting androgen levels. While physiological constraints are sufficient to maintain signal amplitude reliability, phenotypic integration and signaling costs maintain reliability of signal duration, consistent with theory of honest signaling. on the reliability of the information conveyed by the signal. In this paper, we (1) discuss the endocrine mechanisms that regulate signal plasticity in males, (2) explore whether those mechanisms are also present in females, (3) examine the information conveyed by the signal, (4) examine how that information changes when the signal changes, and finally (5) consider the energetic strategies used to sustain expensive signaling.

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Brain androgen receptor expression correlates with seasonal changes in the behavior of a weakly electric fish, Brachyhypopomus gauderio

Cited by 35 publications

References 59 publications

Neuromodulation of the agonistic behavior in two species of weakly electric fish that display different types of aggression

Neuromodulation of the agonistic behavior in two species of weakly electric fish that display different types of aggression

Social and Environmental Regulation of Signal Plasticity and Signal Reliability in the Electric Fish Brachyhypopomus gauderio

Behavioral ecology, endocrinology and signal reliability of electric communication

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