Comparison of Monoamine Concentrations in the Brains of Adult Male and Female Japanese Quail

Ottinger, Mary Ann; Schumacher, Michaël; Clarke, Rachel; Duchala, Cynthia S.; Turek, Robert; Balthazart, Jacques

doi:10.3382/ps.0651413

Cited by 34 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…Finally, the LoC is the origin of the majority of noradrenergic fibers of the brain and therefore potentially affects the activity of a large number of brain areas. The sexually dimorphic VT innervation of this nucleus may therefore potentially regulate the noradrenergic networks and influence many physiological and behavioral functional systems (29)(30)(31)(32)(33)(34). These anatomical data thus clearly support the notion that VT may be implicated in the control of sexually differentiated reproductive processes.…”

Section: Sex Dimorphism Of the Vasotocin System In The Avian Brainsupporting

confidence: 66%

The parvocellular vasotocin system of Japanese quail: a developmental and adult model for the study of influences of gonadal hormones on sexually differentiated and behaviorally relevant neural circuits.

Panzica

Balthazart

Pessatti³

et al. 2002

Environ Health Perspect

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Vasotocin (VT; the antidiuretic hormone of birds) is synthesized by diencephalic magnocellular neurons projecting to the neurohypophysis. A sexually dimorphic system of VT-immunoreactive (ir) parvocellular elements has been described within the male medial preoptic nucleus (POM) and the nucleus of the stria terminalis, pars medialis (BSTm). VT-ir fibers are present in many diencephalic and extradiencephalic locations, and quantitative morphometric analyses demonstrated their sexually dimorphic distribution in regions involved in the control of different aspects of reproduction. Moreover, systemic or intracerebroventricular injections of VT markedly inhibit the expression of some aspects of male sexual behavior. In adult animals, circulating levels of testosterone (T) have a profound influence on the VT immunoreactivity within BSTm, POM, and lateral septum. Castration markedly decreases the immunoreaction, whereas T-replacement therapy restores a situation similar to the intact birds. We observed no changes in gonadectomized females treated with T. These changes parallel similar changes in male copulatory behavior (not present in castrated male quail, fully expressed in castrated, T-treated males). The restoration by T of the VT immunoreactivity in castrated male quail could be fully mimicked by a treatment with estradiol (E(2)), suggesting that the aromatization of T into E(2) may play a key limiting role in both the activation of male sexual behavior and the induction of VT synthesis. This dimorphism has an organizational nature: administration of E(2) to quail embryos (a treatment that abolishes male sexual behavior) results in a dramatic decrease of the VT immunoreactivity in sexually dimorphic regions. Conversely, the inhibition of E(2) synthesis during embryonic life (a treatment that stimulates the expression of male copulatory behavior in treated females exposed in adulthood to T) results in a malelike distribution of VT immunoreactivity. The VT parvocellular system of the Japanese quail can therefore be considered an accurate marker of the sexual differentiation of brain circuits mediating copulatory behavior and could be a very sensitive indicator of the activity of estrogenlike substances on neural circuits.

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Section: Sex Dimorphism Of the Vasotocin System In The Avian Brainsupporting

confidence: 66%

The parvocellular vasotocin system of Japanese quail: a developmental and adult model for the study of influences of gonadal hormones on sexually differentiated and behaviorally relevant neural circuits.

Panzica

Balthazart

Pessatti³

et al. 2002

Environ Health Perspect

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“…A sexually dimorphic nucleus that is larger in males than in females has been identified in the medial preoptic area of quail ( Panzica, Viglietti-Panzica, Sanchez, Sante, and Balthazart, 1991). In addition, levels of norepinephrine in the preoptic area of quail have been reported to be higher in females than in males (Ottinger et al, 1986). Thus, although we did not observe any sex differences, it is likely that quantitative comparisons could reveal dimorphisms in both the number of labeled cells or the intensity of terminal labeling.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 54%

The distribution of tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactivity in the brains of male and female zebra finches

1993

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A system of brain nuclei controls song learning and behavior in zebra finches (Poephila guttata). The size of song-control nuclei are much larger in males, which sing, than in females, which do not sing. This study examined the distribution of fibers, terminals, and cell bodies that are immunoreactive for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) (the rate-limiting enzyme in the synthesis of catecholamines) in song-control nuclei of adult males and females and juvenile males. In addition, the broad pattern of TH staining throughout the brain was described. There was a sex difference in TH immunoreactivity within song-control nuclei: males had light to moderate staining in all three cortical nuclei examined, whereas females had little or no label in corresponding areas [lateral magnocellular nucleus of the anterior neostriatum (IMAN), higher vocal center (HVC), and robust nucleus of the archistriatum (RA)]. The song-control nucleus area X (X), located in the striatum of avian basal ganglia, was more darkly stained than the surrounding striatum only in males; X was not defined by more intense immunoreactivity in females and hence could not be visualized. There were no apparent differences in TH staining in males ranging in age from 50 days to adulthood (> 90 days). Outside of the song-control system there were no substantive differences as a function of sex or age in the pattern or intensity of TH labeling. Major areas of telencephalic staining included the striatal region of basal ganglia, which was covered with dense, fine-grained label, and the septum, where cell bodies were encircled by extremely well-labeled thick processes. In the diencephalon, the preoptic area and hypothalamus included a complex pattern of darkly stained somata and fiber and terminal labeling. Darkly stained somata surrounded the pretectal nucleus, and labeled processes ramified throughout the superficial layers of the optic tectum. The midbrain and hindbrain contained a dense plexus of extremely dark cell bodies corresponding to mammalian substantia nigra, adjacent tegmental areas, and locus ceruleus. Labeled hindbrain cells were also seen in the pontine region, around nucleus solitarius, and in the ventrolateral medulla.

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“…Considering functional studies and the connections of the POM with other brain areas, it appears likely that this nucleus is a target site for steroids and that it participates in the control of male sexual behaviour. Recently biochemical microanalysis of the quail preoptic area revealed sex differences in testosterone metabolism , in aromatase activity and in catecholamine content (Ottinger et al, 1986). Due to the fact that a denser staining of the Nissl substance probably reflects a higher rate of intracellular metabolism, we think that the POM could provide a morphologically defined region for the biochemical differences observed to date.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 83%

Cytoarchitectural analysis of the quail preoptic area. Evidence for a sex‐related dimorphism in the medial preoptic nucleus

Panzica

Viglietti‐Panzica

Fiori

et al. 1987

Bolletino di zoologia

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Comparison of Monoamine Concentrations in the Brains of Adult Male and Female Japanese Quail

Cited by 34 publications

References 30 publications

The parvocellular vasotocin system of Japanese quail: a developmental and adult model for the study of influences of gonadal hormones on sexually differentiated and behaviorally relevant neural circuits.

The parvocellular vasotocin system of Japanese quail: a developmental and adult model for the study of influences of gonadal hormones on sexually differentiated and behaviorally relevant neural circuits.

The distribution of tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactivity in the brains of male and female zebra finches

Cytoarchitectural analysis of the quail preoptic area. Evidence for a sex‐related dimorphism in the medial preoptic nucleus

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