Gonadal Hormones Induce Dendritic Growth in the Adult Avian Brain

DeVoogd, Timothy J.; Nottebohm, Fernando

doi:10.1126/science.7280692

Cited by 374 publications

(142 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…In birds, we know that testosterone (T) and its metabolites, E 2 and 5α-dihydrotestosterone (DHT), influence the anatomy of the vocal control circuit in adult songbird species (DeVoogd & Nottebohm, 1981;Schlinger, 1997;Tramontin & Brenowitz, 2000). In addition, E 2 appears to regulate apoptosis after Hp damage in the zebra finch (Saldanha, Rohmann, Coomaralingam, & Wynne, 2004).…”

Section: Hormones and Hpmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sex differences in the effects of captivity on hippocampus size in brown-headed cowbirds (Molothrus ater obscurus).

Day

Guerra²,

Schlinger³

et al. 2008

Behavioral Neuroscience

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In brood parasitic cowbirds, hippocampus (Hp) size is correlated with environmental spatial memory demands. Searching for host nests is the presumed causal factor influencing cowbird Hp size, because Hp volumes vary across species, sexes, and seasons according to nest-searching participation. Brownheaded cowbirds have female-only nest searching and, at least in the eastern subspecies, a larger Hp in females than in males, suggesting that nest searching influences cowbird Hp size. We predicted that female brown-headed cowbirds housed in aviaries lacking host nests would have a smaller Hp than wild-caught females whereas males would be unaffected. We found that the Hp was smaller in captive females, but not males, compared to their wild-caught counterparts. This did not appear to be due to general effects of an impoverished environment on all brain regions. Our results imply that interruption of nest searching in cowbirds prevents seasonal increase in Hp size in females. Future studies should isolate which behavioral differences between wild and captive birds contributed to captivity-induced changes in Hp volume in females while not affecting males. Keywordscowbird; hippocampus; sex differences; brain plasticity; brood parasitism Variation in environmental spatial demands is related to variation in hippocampus (Hp) size among closely related species, between sexes, and across seasons in mammalian, avian, and reptilian species. For example, food-storing behaviors in birds (Clayton, 1995a;Hampton, Sherry, Shettleworth, Kurgel, & Ivy, 1995;Hampton & Shettleworth, 1996;Healy & Krebs, 1992;Krebs, Sherry, Healy, Perry, & Vaccarion, 1989;Sherry, Vaccarino, Buckenham, & Herz, 1989;Volman, Grubb, & Schuett, 1997) and rodents (Jacobs, 1992;Jacobs & Spencer, 1994), foraging-related rate of movement in lacertid lizards (Day, Crews, & Wilczynski, 1999), home-range size in voles (Gaulin, 1992;Jacobs, Gaulin, Sherry, & Hoffman, 1990 Sherry, Jacobs, & Gaulin, 1992), and breeding-habitat complexity in petrels (Abbott, Walsh, Storey, Stenhause, & Harley, 1999) are all associated with enlarged Hp size, presumably due to the demands of spatial memory. In addition, seasonal variation in food-storing demands is associated with seasonal changes in Hp volume (Smulders, Sasson, & DeVoogd, 1995) in black-capped chickadees and rodents (Jacobs, 1996). Males have a larger Hp than females in a vole species in which males have larger home ranges but not in vole species that do not have sex differences in home range (Gaulin, 1992). These results provide evidence that environmental or experiential seasonal changes can alter Hp volume and that natural and sexual selection on a variety of spatial-related skills has produced a larger Hp in some species or sexes than in others.Although correlations of Hp volume with ecological demands for spatial ability are numerous, the specific mechanisms that contribute to such adult variation in the volume of the Hp are not well understood. We do know that species-specific reactions to spatial experience...

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Section: Hormones and Hpmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sex differences in the effects of captivity on hippocampus size in brown-headed cowbirds (Molothrus ater obscurus).

Day

Guerra²,

Schlinger³

et al. 2008

Behavioral Neuroscience

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“…Administration of T, or its metabolite E 2 , increases neuronal number and size in HVC and Area X in song sparrows, white-crowned sparrows (Zonotrichia leucophrys gambelii), and darkeyed juncos (Junco hyemalis), and increases neuron size in RA (Gulledge & Deviche, 1995;Tramontin et al, 2003;Soma et al, 2004). The arborization of neurons within RA is profoundly affected by E 2 in the adult canary, with the number of dendrites and synaptic profiles increasing with steroid administration (DeVoogd & Nottebohm, 1981). Surprisingly, the steroidal influence on the song system can be extremely rapid, as significant increases in HVC neuron number are detectable within a week of T administration (Brenowitz, 2004).…”

Section: Seasonal Adult Neuroplasticity In the Song Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

Recent advances in behavioral neuroendocrinology: Insights from studies on birds

Goodson

Saldanha

Hahn

et al. 2005

Hormones and Behavior

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Ever since investigations in the field of behavioral endocrinology were hatched with experiments on roosters, birds have provided original insights into issues of fundamental importance for all vertebrate groups. Here we focus on more recent advances that continue this tradition, including 1) environmental regulation of neuroendocrine and behavioral systems, 2) steroidogenic enzyme functions that are related to intracrine processes and de novo production of neurosteroids, and 3) hormonal regulation of neuroplasticity. We also review recent findings on the anatomical and functional organization of steroid-sensitive circuits in the basal forebrain and midbrain. A burgeoning body of data now demonstrates that these circuits comprise an evolutionarily conserved network, thus numerous novel insights obtained from birds can be used (in a relatively straightforward manner) to generate predictions for other taxa as well. We close by using birdsong as an example that links these areas together, thereby highlighting the exceptional opportunities that birds offer for integrative studies of behavioral neuroendocrinology, and behavioral biology in general. Keywords aggression; reproduction; song; limbic system; vasotocin; photoperiod; neurosteroid; DHEA; aromatase; adult neurogenesis; estrogen; testosterone; thyroxin; hypothalamus; hippocampus; HVC; septum; GnRH; SCN; season; neuroplasticity Birds offer excellent opportunities for behavioral and neuroendocrine experiments in both the field and the laboratory, and studies conducted at this interface have historically placed avian models on the cutting edge of research (Konishi et al., 1989; also see Wingfield, this issue). Indeed, wild birds offer a combination of accessibility (being diurnal and terrestrial) and diversity (social and ecological) that makes them invaluable models for studying mechanistic and evolutionary questions that are not as tractable in other vertebrate groups. This diversity can be studied within the context of neural and endocrine systems that share many features with those of other taxa (thereby increasing the general relevance of avian studies) (Goodson, 2005), although these features are often more pronounced in birds. Such examples include exceptionally robust and widespread neural aromatase activity, and adult neurogenesis in the forebrain, both of which are considered further below (also see Ball and Balthazart, 2004;

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“…Many studies have shown that variations in gonadal hormones in female animals -in particular estrogen-lead to structural brain changes, and to changes in behavior (Darnaudéry et al, 2007;DeVoogd & Nottebohm, 1981;Fader, Hendricson, & Dohanich, 1998;Galea & Kavaliers, 1995;Galea et al, 2000;Gibbs, 2000;Korol, 2004;Luine & Frankfurt, 2012;Pawluski, Brummelte, Barha, Crozier, & Galea, 2009;Woolley, 1998;Woolley & McEwen, 1993). Endogenous estrogen fluctuates naturally during the estrous cycle, peaks during pregnancy, and declines at menopause.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Differences in navigation performance and postpartal striatal volume associated with pregnancy in humans

Lisofsky

Wiener

Condappa

et al. 2016

Neurobiology of Learning and Memory

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a b s t r a c tPregnancy is accompanied by prolonged exposure to high estrogen levels. Animal studies have shown that estrogen influences navigation strategies and, hence, affects navigation performance. High estrogen levels are related to increased use of hippocampal-based allocentric strategies and decreased use of striatal-based egocentric strategies. In humans, associations between hormonal shifts and navigation strategies are less well studied. This study compared 30 peripartal women (mean age 28 years) to an age-matched control group on allocentric versus egocentric navigation performance (measured in the last month of pregnancy) and gray matter volume (measured within two months after delivery). None of the women had a previous pregnancy before study participation. Relative to controls, pregnant women performed less well in the egocentric condition of the navigation task, but not the allocentric condition. A whole-brain group comparison revealed smaller left striatal volume (putamen) in the peripartal women. Across the two groups, left striatal volume was associated with superior egocentric over allocentric performance. Limited by the cross-sectional study design, the findings are a first indication that human pregnancy might be accompanied by structural brain changes in navigation-related neural systems and concomitant changes in navigation strategy.

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Gonadal Hormones Induce Dendritic Growth in the Adult Avian Brain

Cited by 374 publications

References 28 publications

Sex differences in the effects of captivity on hippocampus size in brown-headed cowbirds (Molothrus ater obscurus).

Sex differences in the effects of captivity on hippocampus size in brown-headed cowbirds (Molothrus ater obscurus).

Recent advances in behavioral neuroendocrinology: Insights from studies on birds

Differences in navigation performance and postpartal striatal volume associated with pregnancy in humans

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