Opioid receptor densities analyzed across seasons in the POM and VTA of the dark-eyed junco, Junco hyemalis

Woods, Jared K.; Deviche, Pierre; Corbitt, Cynthia

doi:10.1016/j.jchemneu.2010.05.002

Cited by 19 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 38 publications

(62 reference statements)

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“…We additionally report a negative relationship between gonad volume and OPRK1 expression in VTA. These findings are similar to those of a study in dark-eyed juncos (seasonally breeding songbirds) in which densities of kappa receptors measured using autoradiography tended to be higher in mPOA and lower in VTA in summer when gonads were large compared to fall when they were fully regressed [91]; however, in Area X they did not change in another junco study [63]. These findings may relate to testosterone influencing OPRK1 expression, given past studies in rodents and rams that show that testosterone and its metabolite estradiol can region-specifically alter mRNA expression for kappa opioid receptors or prodynorphin [92, 93].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

Prodynorphin and kappa opioid receptor mRNA expression in the brain relates to social status and behavior in male European starlings

Riters

Cordes

Stevenson

2017

Behavioural Brain Research

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Numerous animal species display behavioral changes in response to changes in social status or territory possession. For example, in male European starlings only males that acquire nesting sites display high rates of sexual and agonistic behavior. Past studies show that mu and delta opioid receptors regulate behaviors associated with social ascension or defeat. Opioids also act at kappa receptors, with dynorphin binding with the highest affinity; however, the role of these opioids in social behavior has not been well studied. We observed flocks of male starlings during the breeding season and ran quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) to measure expression of kappa opioid receptors (OPRK1) and prodynorphin (PDYN) in brain regions involved in social behavior and motivation (ventral tegmental area [VTA], medial preoptic nucleus [mPOA]) and vocal behavior (Area X). Males with nesting territories displayed more sexual/agonistic behavior than males without nesting territories. They also had lower OPRK1 expression in VTA and mPOA. OPRK1 expression in VTA correlated negatively with sexual/agonistic behaviors, consistent with past studies showing kappa receptors in VTA to inhibit sociosexual behaviors. PDYN in mPOA correlated negatively with a measure of nesting behavior that may also reflect sexual motivation. PDYN in Area X related positively to song. Distinct patterns of OPRK1 and PDYN expression in VTA, mPOA, and Area X related to gonad volume, suggesting that breeding condition may modify (or be modified by) OPRK1 and PDYN expression. Studies are now needed to further characterize the role of OPRK1 and PDYN in status-appropriate social behaviors.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

Prodynorphin and kappa opioid receptor mRNA expression in the brain relates to social status and behavior in male European starlings

Riters

Cordes

Stevenson

2017

Behavioural Brain Research

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“…The pattern of ENK-ir also mirrors changes in opioid receptor densities with variation in the POA and ventral tegmental area (VTA) that are associated with breeding state (Woods et al, 2010). However, unlike opioid receptor densities (Woods et al, 2010), we did not observe anatomically localized effects on ENK-ir. This suggests then that opioid receptors may exhibit localized variation in content depending on the environmental context, but the protein expression remains equivalent throughout the POA.…”

Section: Enk-ir In the Social Behavior Networkmentioning

confidence: 50%

“…GnRH1 is specifically located within the POA and is a reliable marker for the POA ). Opioid receptors have been shown to vary seasonally in anatomically distinct regions of the POA (Woods et al, 2010). In order to address the issue of anatomically localized effect on ENK-ir, we used the distribution of GnRH1 cells to determine rostral and caudal POA boundaries.…”

Section: Quantification Of Enkephalin Immunoreactivitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Variation in enkephalin immunoreactivity in the social behavior network and song control system of male European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) is dependent on breeding state and gonadal condition

Stevenson

Calabrese

Ball

2012

Journal of Chemical Neuroanatomy

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“…In contrast to opioid receptors, opioid ligand precursors such as preproenkephalin and proopiomelanocortin have been found to increase in the brain in response to T and estrogen treatments [50–52]. Considering that the POM contains ARs, muORs, and enkephalin opioids [22, 32, 38, 39, 53], it is plausible that androgens may modify expression of opioid receptors and ligands in the medial POM to promote sexually-motivated singing behavior.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sexually-motivated song is predicted by androgen-and opioid-related gene expression in the medial preoptic nucleus of male European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris)

Cordes

Stevenson

Driessen

et al. 2015

Behavioural Brain Research

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Across vertebrates, communication conveys information about an individual’s motivational state, yet little is known about the neuroendocrine regulation of motivational aspects of communication. For seasonally breeding songbirds, increases in testosterone in spring stimulate high rates of sexually-motivated courtship song, though not all birds sing at high rates. It is generally assumed that testosterone or its metabolites act within the medial preoptic nucleus (POM) to stimulate the motivation to sing. In addition to androgen receptors (ARs) and testosterone, opioid neuropeptides in the POM influence sexually-motivated song production, and it has been proposed that testosterone may in part regulate song by modifying opioid systems. To gain insight into a possible role for androgen-opioid interactions in the regulation of communication we examined associations between sexually-motivated song and relative expression of ARs, mu opioid receptors (muORs), and preproenkephalin (PENK) in the POM (and other regions) of male European starlings using qPCR. Both AR and PENK expression in POM correlated positively with singing behavior, whereas muOR in POM correlated negatively with song. Furthermore, the ratio of PENK/muOR expression correlated negatively with AR expression in POM. Finally, in the ventral tegmental area (VTA), PENK expression correlated negatively with singing behavior. Results support the hypothesis that ARs may alter opioid gene expression in POM to fine-tune singing to reflect a male’s motivational state. Data also suggest that bidirectional relationships may exist between opioids and ARs in POM and song, and additionally support a role for opioids in the VTA, independent of AR activity in this region.

show abstract

Opioid receptor densities analyzed across seasons in the POM and VTA of the dark-eyed junco, Junco hyemalis

Cited by 19 publications

References 38 publications

Prodynorphin and kappa opioid receptor mRNA expression in the brain relates to social status and behavior in male European starlings

Prodynorphin and kappa opioid receptor mRNA expression in the brain relates to social status and behavior in male European starlings

Variation in enkephalin immunoreactivity in the social behavior network and song control system of male European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) is dependent on breeding state and gonadal condition

Sexually-motivated song is predicted by androgen-and opioid-related gene expression in the medial preoptic nucleus of male European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris)

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