Short days induce premature reproductive maturation in juvenile starlings, Sturnus vulgaris

Williams, Tony; Dawson, Alistair; Nicholls, T. J.; Goldsmith, AR

doi:10.1530/jrf.0.0800327

Cited by 27 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 17 publications

(20 reference statements)

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“…Young hatch in the spring or summer in the condition of photorefractoriness [12,13]; they are incapable of responding reproductively to the stimulatory effects of the long photophases to which they are exposed at that time [14]. Through an unknown neural mechanism, exposure to the short photophases of fall and winter establishes the hypothalamic sensitivity necessary for the individual to mount a reproductive response to its first experience with photostimulation the following spring [10].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prior Experience with Photostimulation Enhances Photo-Induced Reproductive Development in Female European Starlings: A Possible Basis for the Age-Related Increase in Avian Reproductive Performance1

Sockman

Williams

Dawson

et al. 2004

Biology of Reproduction

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Reproductive performance in female birds improves with age, and this is generally attributed to experiences obtained during breeding. In temperate-zone species, experience with photostimulation during the first breeding year may prime the hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal axis to respond to photic cues more rapidly or robustly in subsequent years. To test this idea, we captured 32 photorefractory juvenile (hence naive to photostimulation) female European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) and held half of them (naive group) on a photoperiod of 8L:16D for 32 wk and the other half (experienced group) on 8L:16D for 12 wk, 16L:8D for 12 wk, and then 8L:16D for 8 wk. When we subsequently transferred all birds to 16L:8D, the increase in body mass, which may presage egg laying in the wild, was more robust in experienced than in naive females. Experienced females also showed a more robust elevation in plasma concentrations of the yolk-precursor protein vitellogenin, although naive females showed an initial rapid but transient rise in vitellogenin that we attribute to their extended exposure to short-day photoperiods prior to photostimulation. Finally, the photo-induced increase in diameter of the largest ovarian follicle, in plasma concentrations of luteinizing hormone, and in the number of septo-preoptic fibers relative to the number of cell bodies immunoreactive to GnRH was greater in experienced than in naive females. Thus, prior experience with photostimulation enhances some initial phases of photo-induced reproductive development and may explain, in part, why reproductive performance improves with age in temperate-zone birds.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prior Experience with Photostimulation Enhances Photo-Induced Reproductive Development in Female European Starlings: A Possible Basis for the Age-Related Increase in Avian Reproductive Performance1

Sockman

Williams

Dawson

et al. 2004

Biology of Reproduction

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“…A series of clever experiments involving raising young starlings (even while in the egg!) on short days showed that that is indeed the case (Williams et al, 1987; McNaughton et al 1992). Starlings will start to respond to short days only after they reach adult size at 21 days after hatch.…”

Section: What Is the Pattern Of Sexual Development In Birds That Matumentioning

confidence: 86%

“…Starlings hatch in the summer when daylengths are long but they do not respond to these with any sign of reproductive development (Williams et al, 1987; McNaugton et al, 1992). It was hypothesized that starlings were born in a photorefractory state and then experienced short days in the fall of their first year which rendered them photosensitive and allowed them to respond to long days and experience sexual maturity during the spring of their first year of life (Farner et al, 1983).…”

Section: What Is the Pattern Of Sexual Development In Birds That Matumentioning

confidence: 99%

The value of comparative approaches to our understanding of puberty as illustrated by investigations in birds and reptiles

Ball

Wade

2013

Hormones and Behavior

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Studies of birds and reptiles have provided many basic insights into the neuroendocrine control of reproductive processes. This research has elucidated mechanisms regulating both early development, including sexual differentiation, and adult neuroendocrine function and behavior. However, phenomena associated with the transition into sexual maturation (puberty) have not been a focus of investigators working on species in these taxonomic classes. Research is complicated in birds and reptiles by a variety of factors, including what can be extended times to maturation, the need to reach particular body size regardless of age, and environmental conditions that can support or inhibit endocrine responses. However, careful selection of model systems, particularly those with available genetic tools, will lead to important comparative studies that can elucidate both generalizability and diversity of mechanisms regulating the onset of reproductive maturity.

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“…They will therefore have a greater number of receptors (McNaughton et al 1995). GnRH secretion starts at the same time, but consequent gonadotrophin secretion (Williams et al 1987) and hence gonadal maturation progresses more rapidly in adults.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A comparison of the annual cycles in testicular size and moult in captive European starlings Sturnus vulgaris during their first and second years

Dawson

2003

Journal of Avian Biology

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There is considerable evidence that reproductive success improves with age in birds. It is often suggested that improved performance of older birds is because they are more experienced. Less consideration has been given to the possibility that improvements may be a consequence of age‐related changes in reproductive physiology. One factor that consistently changes with age is laying date – first year birds lay later than older birds. In European starlings Sturnus vulgaris, older males begin reproductive activity earlier than first year males and dominate available nest sites. I monitored changes in testicular volume in captive starlings exposed to natural changes in day length and temperature, from their first autumn through the next two annual cycles. Testicular maturation was advanced by 3–4 weeks in birds during their second year compared to the first, and testicular regression occurred about 2 weeks later. The period of full sexual maturation was 50% longer during the second year. The timing of the post‐nuptial moult was the same. A possible physiological mechanism to explain this is discussed. The results show that earlier reproductive activity in older birds can be explained, at least in part, by intrinsic physiological mechanisms. This does not preclude additional effects of experience of an individual in the improvement in reproductive performance between first and second year birds.

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Short days induce premature reproductive maturation in juvenile starlings, Sturnus vulgaris

Cited by 27 publications

References 17 publications

Prior Experience with Photostimulation Enhances Photo-Induced Reproductive Development in Female European Starlings: A Possible Basis for the Age-Related Increase in Avian Reproductive Performance1

Prior Experience with Photostimulation Enhances Photo-Induced Reproductive Development in Female European Starlings: A Possible Basis for the Age-Related Increase in Avian Reproductive Performance1

The value of comparative approaches to our understanding of puberty as illustrated by investigations in birds and reptiles

A comparison of the annual cycles in testicular size and moult in captive European starlings Sturnus vulgaris during their first and second years

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