Social condition affects the courtship behavior of male ring doves with posterior medial hypothalamic lesions

Bernstein, Penny L.; Zuo, Ming-xue; Cheng, Mei-Fang

doi:10.1016/0163-1047(93)90834-5

Cited by 21 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…VMH is classically known to be involved in the regulation of female sexual behaviors [e.g. 12,53], but the present data add to a growing body of evidence suggesting the VMH also plays a role in male reproductive behaviors [21,47,60], including male courtship behavior [8,22].…”

Section: Zenk and Brain Regions Outside The Song Systemsupporting

confidence: 48%

ZENK labeling within social behavior brain regions reveals breeding context-dependent patterns of neural activity associated with song in male European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris)

Heimovics

Riters

2007

Behavioural Brain Research

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In songbirds, song learning and production are regulated by the song control system. How the rest of the brain interacts with song nuclei to ensure that song is produced in an appropriate context is not yet clear. In male European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris), breeding context song is sexually motivated whereas non-breeding context song is more broadly socially motivated. Brain regions involved in regulating social behavior might differentially regulate starling song depending upon the context in which it is produced. Here, we compared the number of ZENK-labeled cells in song and social behavior nuclei in starlings singing in either a breeding or a non-breeding context. Numbers of ZENK-labeled cells in HVC related positively to song produced in both contexts. Interestingly, numbers of ZENK-labeled cells in one subdivision of the lateral septum (LS) related negatively to breeding context song but positively to non-breeding context song. In a subdivision of the medial bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BSTm) ZENK labeling only related positively to non-breeding context song whereas in the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus (VMH) ZENK labeling showed a tighter positive relationship with breeding context song. Together, these findings indicate that social behavior brain regions outside of the song control system regulate singing behavior differently depending upon whether song is sexually or more broadly socially motivated. Breeding context-dependent regulation of song by LS, BSTm, and VMH suggests that these nuclei may be central to adjusting song production so that it occurs in response to appropriate social and environmental stimuli. Keywords songbird; season; social context; ZENK; high vocal center; lateral septum; bed nucleus of the stria terminalis; ventromedial nucleus of hypothalamus

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Section: Zenk and Brain Regions Outside The Song Systemsupporting

confidence: 48%

ZENK labeling within social behavior brain regions reveals breeding context-dependent patterns of neural activity associated with song in male European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris)

Heimovics

Riters

2007

Behavioural Brain Research

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“…Conversely, it is well established that the VMH is integral in the expression of female sexual behavior [reviewed in Pfaff et al, 1994]. However, lesions of the basal hypothalamus that include the VMH inhibit the expression of courtship behaviors in male green anole lizards [Farragher and Crews, 1979], red-sided garter snakes [Friedman and Crews, 1985], and ring doves [Bernstein et al, 1993]. In male hamsters VMH lesions alter the regulation of postcopulatory ultrasonic vocalizations [Floody, 1989], and in male rats the blockage of androgen receptors in the VMH leads to severe decrements in copulatory behavior [McGinnis et al, 1996].…”

Section: Functional Connections and Sexual Behaviormentioning

confidence: 99%

Functional Connectivity among Limbic Brain Areas: Differential Effects of Incubation Temperature and Gonadal Sex in the Leopard Gecko, <i>Eublepharis macularius</i>

et al. 2000

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The neural basis of individual differences in behavior has been studied primarily by analyzing the properties of specific neural areas. However, because of the organization of the nervous system, it is also plausible that differences in behavior are mediated by differences in the interactivity or functional connectivity among brain nuclei in particular neural circuits. In the leopard gecko, Eublepharis macularius, the temperature of the egg during incubation not only determines gonadal sex, but also shapes the sociosexual behaviors, reproductive physiology, and hormone sensitivity of adult animals. In this study the effects of both incubation temperature and gonadal sex on functional connectivity among limbic brain areas were examined. Functional connectivity was assessed by analyzing covariance patterns in metabolic capacity, as revealed by quantitative cytochrome oxidase histochemistry. It was hypothesized that incubation temperature and gonadal sex affect the propensity to display aggressive or sexual behaviors by altering the functional connectivity within relevant neural circuits. The correlations of metabolic capacity between the anterior hypothalamus and both the septum and preoptic area were significant only in relatively aggressive individuals, suggesting that these circuits may regulate the phenotypic variation in aggressiveness caused by incubation temperature. The correlations between the ventromedial hypothalamus and both the dorsal ventricular ridge and septum were significant only in females, suggesting that these circuits may modulate female-typical sexual behaviors. Correlations among preoptic, hypothalamic and amygdalar areas tended to be distributed across both sexes, suggesting that there may be shared pathways underlying the expression of male-typical and female-typical behaviors.

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“…The ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus (VMN, also called the medialis hypothalami posterioris, PMH) in adult ring doves (Streptopelia risoria) is uniquely suited to address this issue because of the region's well characterized physiological and behavioral properties. The VMN plays an important role in the normal display of courtship behavior by ring doves (Bernstein et al, 1993). After bilateral lesions of the VMN, male ring doves immediately exhibit largely diminished courtship behavior; however, long-term rehabilitation with a female facilitated full recovery of the courtship response (Bernstein et al, 1993).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The VMN plays an important role in the normal display of courtship behavior by ring doves (Bernstein et al, 1993). After bilateral lesions of the VMN, male ring doves immediately exhibit largely diminished courtship behavior; however, long-term rehabilitation with a female facilitated full recovery of the courtship response (Bernstein et al, 1993). The underlying cellular and mechanistic basis of behavioral recovery was not understood.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lesion‐induced neurogenesis in the hypothalamus is involved in behavioral recovery in adult ring doves

2006

Self Cite

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Although neurogenesis in the brain of adult vertebrates is region dependent, lesion induces generation of new neurons in non-neurogenic brain regions. These findings raise the question of the role of new neurons in brain repair and functional recovery. We addressed this question by applying previous observations that electrolytic lesion induced neurogenesis in the ventromedial nucleus (VMN) of the hypothalamus in adult ring doves. Such lesions disrupted the male's courtship behavior, which could be reinstated after rehabilitation with a female. We investigated whether lesion-induced newborn neurons in the VMN facilitate the recovery of courtship behavior in the lesioned birds. We conducted systematic observations of cytological, morphological, and neuroanatomical changes in the lesioned VMN, and concurrently we monitored behavioral changes. Using a multitude of specific cell markers, we found a well-circumscribed cellular zone that proliferated actively. This highly proliferative zone initially appeared along the periphery of the lesion site, where cells had high levels of expression of neuronal, glial, and neurovascular markers. As newborn neurons matured at the lesion site, the necrosis gradually decreased, whereas a downsized proliferative zone relocated to a region ventral to the VMN. Some of the mature neurons were found to project to the midbrain vocal nuclei. Restoration of these projection neurons coincided with the recovery of courtship vocalization. Finally, we found that a social factor, that is, when the male doves were cohoused with a mate, facilitated neurogenesis and behavioral recovery. These results suggest that lesion-induced neurogenesis contributes to behavioral recovery in adult animals.

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Social condition affects the courtship behavior of male ring doves with posterior medial hypothalamic lesions

Cited by 21 publications

References 17 publications

ZENK labeling within social behavior brain regions reveals breeding context-dependent patterns of neural activity associated with song in male European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris)

ZENK labeling within social behavior brain regions reveals breeding context-dependent patterns of neural activity associated with song in male European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris)

Functional Connectivity among Limbic Brain Areas: Differential Effects of Incubation Temperature and Gonadal Sex in the Leopard Gecko, <i>Eublepharis macularius</i>

Lesion‐induced neurogenesis in the hypothalamus is involved in behavioral recovery in adult ring doves

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