In vivo online monitoring of testosterone-induced neuroplasticity in a female songbird

[en] Adult neuroplasticity in the song control system of seasonal songbirds is largely driven by photoperiod-induced increases in testosterone. Prior studies of the relationships between testosterone, song performance and neuroplasticity used invasive techniques, which prevent analyzing the dynamic changes over time and often focus on pre-defined regions-of-interest instead of examining the entire brain. Here, we combined (i) in vivo diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to assess structural neuroplasticity with (ii) repeated monitoring of song and (iii) measures of plasma testosterone concentrations in thirteen female photosensitive starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) who received a testosterone implant for 3 weeks. We observed fast (days) and slower (weeks) effects of testosterone on song behavior and structural neuroplasticity and determined how these effects correlate on a within-subject level, which suggested separate contributions of the song motor and anterior forebrain pathways in the development of song performance. Specifically, the increase in testosterone correlated with a rapid increase of song rate and RA volume, and with changes in Area X microstructure. After implant removal, these variables rapidly reverted to baseline levels. In contrast, the more gradual improvement of song quality was positively correlated with the fractional anisotropy values (DTI metric sensitive to white matter changes) of the HVC-RA tract and of the lamina mesopallialis, which contains fibers connecting the song control nuclei. Thus, we confirmed many of the previously reported testosterone-induced effects, like the increase in song control nuclei volume, but identified for the first time a more global picture of the spatio-temporal changes in brain plasticity. © 2019 Elsevier Inc.

Disciplines :

Neurosciences & behavior
Zoology

Author, co-author :

Orije, J.; Bio-Imaging Lab, University of Antwerp, Belgium

Cardon, E.; Bio-Imaging Lab, University of Antwerp, Belgium

De Groof, G.; Bio-Imaging Lab, University of Antwerp, Belgium

Hamaide, J.; Bio-Imaging Lab, University of Antwerp, Belgium

Jonckers, E.; Bio-Imaging Lab, University of Antwerp, Belgium

Van Massenhoven, S.; Bio-Imaging Lab, University of Antwerp, Belgium

Darras, V.; Laboratory of Comparative Endocrinology, KU Leuven, Belgium

Balthazart, Jacques ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences biomédicales et précliniques > Département des sciences biomédicales et précliniques

Verhoye, M.; Bio-Imaging Lab, University of Antwerp, Belgium

Van der Linden, A.; Bio-Imaging Lab, University of Antwerp, Belgium

Language :

English

Title :

In vivo online monitoring of testosterone-induced neuroplasticity in a female songbird

Publication date :

2020

Journal title :

Hormones and Behavior

ISSN :

0018-506X

eISSN :

1095-6867

Publisher :

Academic Press Inc.

Volume :

118

Peer reviewed :

Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi

Name of the research project :

WO: Nr G030213N; IAP, P7/17

Funders :

Flemish Government
FWO - Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek Vlaanderen
UIA - Universitaire Instelling Antwerpen

Available on ORBi :

since 09 June 2020

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