Abstract

We propose to use the neural system controlling song in passerine birds as a model system to study several interrelated issues. Using systemic treatment and intracranial microimplants of sex steroids, we propose to study cellular mechanisms by which sex steriods influence neuronal growth and differentiation at various periods in life. This involves light microscopic measurements of morphology of neurons and of the sizes of brain regions as a function of various steroid hormone treatments. We propose to examine what role (a) androgenic steroids have in (b) neural changes related to (c) vocal learning, by measuring these three (a, b, c) variables as they change in several species of birds. We propose to study sexual differences in neural morphology in several species which have sex differences in vocal behavior, to understand better the relationship between neural morphology and behavior, and to understand better the neural bases of sex differences in behavior. We propose to study the role of sensory feedback in song learning. These experiments will increase our understanding of sex hormone actions on the brain during development, and provide insight into the relationship between brain structure and behavior.

  Funding Agency

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01NS019645-03
Application #
3399767
Study Section
Biopsychology Study Section (BPO)
Project Start
1983-07-01
Project End
1986-06-30
Budget Start
1985-07-01
Budget End
1986-06-30
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
1985
Total Cost
Indirect Cost

  Institution

Name
University of California Los Angeles
Department
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
119132785
City
Los Angeles
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
90095

  Publications

Mathews, G A; Arnold, A P (1990) Antiestrogens fail to prevent the masculine ontogeny of the zebra finch song system. Gen Comp Endocrinol 80:48-58
Brenowitz, E A; Arnold, A P (1990) The effects of systemic androgen treatment on androgen accumulation in song control regions of the adult female canary brain. J Neurobiol 21:837-43
Lubischer, J L; Arnold, A P (1990) Autoradiographic localization of progestin-concentrating cells in the brain of the zebra finch. J Comp Neurol 291:450-6
Brenowitz, E A; Arnold, A P (1989) Accumulation of estrogen in a vocal control brain region of a duetting song bird. Brain Res 480:119-25
DeVoogd, T J; Brenowitz, E A; Arnold, A P (1988) Small sex differences in song control dendrites are associated with minimal differences in song capacity. J Neurobiol 19:199-209
Mathews, G A; Brenowitz, E A; Arnold, A P (1988) Paradoxical hypermasculinization of the zebra finch song system by an antiestrogen. Horm Behav 22:540-51
Nordeen, E J; Nordeen, K W; Arnold, A P (1987) Sexual differentiation of androgen accumulation within the zebra finch brain through selective cell loss and addition. J Comp Neurol 259:393-9
Brenowitz, E A; Arnold, A P (1986) Interspecific comparisons of the size of neural song control regions and song complexity in duetting birds: evolutionary implications. J Neurosci 6:2875-9
Bottjer, S W; Miesner, E A; Arnold, A P (1986) Changes in neuronal number, density and size account for increases in volume of song-control nuclei during song development in zebra finches. Neurosci Lett 67:263-8
Bottjer, S W; Schoonmaker, J N; Arnold, A P (1986) Auditory and hormonal stimulation interact to produce neural growth in adult canaries. J Neurobiol 17:605-12

Showing the most recent 10 out of 14 publications