Catecholaminergic cells and fibers in the brain of the lizard Anolis carolinensis identified by traditional as well as whole-mount immunohistochemistry

Lopez, Kristin H.; Jones, Richard E.; Seufert, Daniel W.; Rand, Matthew S.; Dores, Robert M.

doi:10.1007/bf00328017

Cited by 39 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…The whole-mount IHC procedure was modified from a protocol previously reported by Lopez et al [30]. Upon removal from the brain case, brains were immediately fixed by immersion in Dent’s fixative (1:4, DMSO:methanol) for 5 days.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Androgen Effects on Tyrosine Hydroxylase Cells in the Northern Leopard Frog, <i>Rana pipiens</i>

Chu

Wilczynski

2002

Neuroendocrinology

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The interaction between gonadal steroids and dopamine neurons has been examined extensively in rodent model systems. However, there have been few investigations examining the functional relation between gonadal steroids and dopaminergic systems in nonmammalian taxa, and none in amphibians. We examined the effects of testosterone (T) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) on changes in tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactive (TH-ir) neuron number in the fore- and midbrain of male Rana pipiens, the Northern leopard frog, using a whole-mount immunohistochemical procedure. Gonadectomized males had significantly fewer TH-ir neurons in the medial preoptic area (POA), suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), and the caudal hypothalamus/posterior tubercular region (HY/TP) compared with T-implanted males. A follow-up study demonstrated that T- and DHT-implanted males had similar numbers of TH-ir neurons in these three regions compared with intact males and that all three of these groups possessed significantly more TH-ir neurons compared with gonadectomized males. These results suggest that circulating sex steroids have a significant impact on the activity of dopaminergic neurons in male R. pipiens. Although the function of these specific dopaminergic neurons is not yet known, the POA, SCN, and TP/DH are known to be integral brain regions underlying the neural control of reproductive behavior in frogs. These results suggest that dopamine may be important in controlling the behavior or neuroendocrine mechanisms of reproduction in these animals and that dopaminergic activity in these areas is regulated by gonadal steroids.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Androgen Effects on Tyrosine Hydroxylase Cells in the Northern Leopard Frog, <i>Rana pipiens</i>

Chu

Wilczynski

2002

Neuroendocrinology

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“…Brains were sliced in situ at −12°C in 300 μm coronal sections and thaw-mounted on glass slides and refrozen for microdissection. The amygdala and NAc were identified using a stereotaxic atlas [34] and a map of central catecholamine staining [35] for A. carolinensis, and microdissected using a 300 μm id. cannula.…”

Section: Measurement Of Accumbal and Amygdalar Monoaminesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These two regions have been shown previously to be involved in responses to different stress types [4,5,[26][27][28]. Accumbal samples comprised tissue homologous to mammalian NAc shell [35][36][37][38] while amygdalar samples correspond to the combined central, lateral and medial regions of the mammalian amygdaloid complex without inclusion of the basolateral nucleus homologue [23][24][25]39]. …”

Section: Measurement Of Accumbal and Amygdalar Monoaminesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rapid neuroendocrine responses evoked at the onset of social challenge

Watt

Forster

Korzan

et al. 2007

Physiology & Behavior

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At the onset of agonistic social challenge, individuals must assess the degree of threat the opponent represents in order to react appropriately. We aimed to characterize the neuroendocrine changes accompanying this period of initial social assessment using the lizard Anolis carolinensis. Conveyance of aggressive intent by male A. carolinensis is facilitated by rapid post-orbital skin darkening (eyespot), whereas eyespot presence inhibits opponent aggression. By manipulating this visual signal, we also investigated whether differing neuroendocrine changes were evoked by initial presentation of varying levels of social threat. Subjects were painted postorbitally either with black paint (high threat level), green paint (low threat level) or water (controls). Painted animals were presented with a mirror and sampled immediately upon exhibiting aggressive intent towards the reflected simulated opponent, but before producing behaviors such as motor pattern-based displays. Control animals (blank surface presented) were sampled at times derived from averaging response times of painted subjects. Brains and plasma were analyzed for monoamine activity and catecholamine levels using electrochemical HPLC. Social threat evoked increases in plasma catecholamine levels indistinguishable from those caused by brief environmental disturbance. However, brief social challenge caused distinct rapid increases in amygdala and nucleus accumbens (NAc) dopamine and serotonin levels. Amygdalar changes were associated with general social threat presence, but NAc monoamines were affected by both threat level and subject motivation to engage in confrontation. This suggests that specific rapid activity changes in key forebrain limbic nuclei differ according to the degree of social threat perceived at the start of the interaction.

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“…Frozen heads were sliced coronally in 300 μm sections and brain nuclei were identified utilizing a stereotaxic atlas, brain map of tyrosine hydroxylase activity, and brain punch atlas [20,45,45,76,76], then microdissected from slices [39]. Nuclei known to be associated with stress and aggression were sampled and included hippocampus (CA, contains large pyramidal cells [50], nucleus accumbens, medial amygdala, lateral amygdala (ventrolateral portion of the anterior dorsal ventricular ridge), anterior hypothalamus (preoptic area) and raphé.…”

Section: Analysis Of Central Monoaminesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Memory of opponents is more potent than visual sign stimuli after social hierarchy has been established

Korzan

Höglund²,

Watt

et al. 2007

Behavioural Brain Research

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During agonistic interactions between male Anolis carolinensis, perception of a visual sign stimulus (darkened eyespots) not only inhibits aggression and promotes initial attainment of dominant social status, but also evokes distinct neuroendocrine responses in each opponent. This study was designed to examine the effect of eyespot manipulation on behavior and social rank during a second interaction between opponents that had previously established a natural dyadic social hierarchy. Prior to a second interaction, eyespots of familiar size-matched combatants were manipulated to reverse information conveyed by this visual signal. Eyespots on the previously dominant male were masked with green paint to indicate low aggression and social status. Previously subordinate males had their eyespots permanently marked with black paint to convey high aggression and status. Opponents were then repaired for a second 10 min interaction following either one or three days of separation. Aggression was generally decreased and social status between pairs remained reasonably consistent. Unlike rapidly activated monoaminergic activity that occurs following the initial pairing, most brain areas sampled were not affected when animals were re-introduced, regardless of visual signal reversal or length of separation between interactions. However in males with "normal" eyespot color, dominant males had reduced serotonergic activity in CA 3 and raphé, while subordinate males exhibited elevated CA 3 dopaminergic activity. Reversing eyespot color also reversed serotonergic activity in raphé and dopaminergic activity in CA 3 after three days of separation. The results suggest that males remember previous opponents, and respond appropriately to their previous social rank in spite of eyespot color.

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Catecholaminergic cells and fibers in the brain of the lizard Anolis carolinensis identified by traditional as well as whole-mount immunohistochemistry

Cited by 39 publications

References 25 publications

Androgen Effects on Tyrosine Hydroxylase Cells in the Northern Leopard Frog, <i>Rana pipiens</i>

Androgen Effects on Tyrosine Hydroxylase Cells in the Northern Leopard Frog, <i>Rana pipiens</i>

Rapid neuroendocrine responses evoked at the onset of social challenge

Memory of opponents is more potent than visual sign stimuli after social hierarchy has been established

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