D2 dopamine receptor activation induces female preference for male song in the monogamous zebra finch

Day, Nancy F.; Saxon, David S.; Robbins, Anastasia; Harris, Lily; Nee, Emily; Shroff-Mehta, Naomi; Stout, Kaeley; Sun, Julia; Lillie, Natalie; Burns, Mara; Korn, Clio; Coleman, Melissa J.

doi:10.1242/jeb.191510

Cited by 19 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…D2R pathways are known to regulate motivation related to social context (Choleris et al, 2011;Young and Wang, 2004). For instance, in male zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata), D2R signalling inhibited aggressive mate competition without influencing courtship song (Kabelik et al, 2010) and, in unpaired female zebra finches, female song preferences were enhanced by D2R facilitation and disrupted by blocking D2R (Day et al, 2019). Our results in the social test corroborate this pattern but results in the non-social context were opposite to it, with D2R activation diminishing overall activity.…”

Section: Effects Of D2-like Receptor Manipulationsupporting

confidence: 77%

Experimental evidence for a role of dopamine on avian personality traits

Silva

Trigo

Marques

et al. 2020

Journal of Experimental Biology

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There is increasing interest in the genetic and physiological bases of behavioural differences among individuals, namely animal personality. One particular dopamine (DA) receptor gene (the dopamine receptor D4 gene) has been used as candidate gene to explain personality differences, but with mixed results. Here, we used an alternative approach, exogenously manipulating the dopaminergic system and testing for effects on personality assays in a social bird species, the common waxbill (Estrilda astrild). We treated birds with agonists and antagonists for DA receptors of both D1 and D2 receptor pathways (the latter includes the D4 receptor) and found that short-term manipulation of DA signalling had an immediate effect on personalityrelated behaviours. In an assay of social responses (mirror test), manipulation of D2 receptor pathways reduced time spent looking at the social stimulus (mirror image). Blocking D2 receptors reduced motor activity in this social assay, while treatment with a D2 receptor agonist augmented activity in this social assay but reduced activity in a nonsocial behavioural assay. Also, in the non-social assay, treatment with the D1 receptor antagonist markedly increased time spent at the feeder. These results show distinct and context-specific effects of the dopaminergic pathways on waxbill personality traits. Our results also suggest that experimental manipulation of DA signalling can disrupt a behavioural correlation (more active individuals being less attentive to mirror image) that is habitually observed as part of a behavioural syndrome in waxbills. We discuss our results in the context of animal personality, and the role of the DA system in reward and social behaviour.

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Section: Effects Of D2-like Receptor Manipulationsupporting

confidence: 77%

Experimental evidence for a role of dopamine on avian personality traits

Silva

Trigo

Marques

et al. 2020

Journal of Experimental Biology

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“…In female starlings, labeling for tyrosine hydroxylase in NAc correlated positively with nesting behavior (Pawlisch et al, 2012), suggesting dopamine in this area may facilitate reproductive investment. In female zebra finches, a recent study demonstrated that D2 but not D1 activation induced female preferences for male song and blocking D2 but not D1 receptors abolished song preferences in paired females (Day et al, 2019). Although causal relationships must be tested, our findings raise the possibility that exposure to male undirected song results in higher D2 expression which may influence nesting behavior and/or the development and maintenance of female preferences for the song of her mate.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Differences in dopamine and opioid receptor ratios in the nucleus accumbens relate to physical contact and undirected song in pair-bonded zebra finches.

Alger¹,

Stevenson²,

Vega³

et al. 2022

Behavioral Neuroscience

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Long-term social bonds are critical for survival and reproductive success in many species. Although courtship and pair-bond formation are relatively well studied, much less is known about the neural regulation of behaviors that occur after pair bonding that reinforce the bond and contribute to reproductive success. Dopamine and opioids in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) alter motivational state and reward by binding to receptor subtypes that engage distinct and opposing second messenger systems, and there is evidence that receptor ratios may influence social behavior. We used quantitative real-time PCR to explore relationships between messenger RNA ratios for dopamine D1 and D2 receptors (D1:D2) and mu and kappa opioid receptors (MOR:KOR) in NAc and behaviors implicated in reproductive investment and pair-bond maintenance in established male-female zebra finch pairs. In males, D1:D2 expression in NAc related negatively, whereas MOR:KOR related positively, to undirected song production. D1:D2 receptors also related positively to physical contact with a female. For females, D1:D2 expression was lower in females exposed to high compared to low rates of the partner's undirected song, and MOR:KOR expression in females related positively to undirected song exposure and allopreening. Analyses of single genes did not yield the same results. These findings suggest that the ratio of D1 to D2 and MOR to KOR receptor signaling in NAc causes differences in behavior or that behavior (or the partner's behavior) causes receptor ratio changes to modulate behaviors that maintain pair bonds and promote reproductive investment.

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“…D2-like receptors are not abundant in NCM, but their presence cannot be ruled out (Kubikova et al, 2010). In fact, systemic D2 receptors have been shown to mediate song preference in adult female zebra finches, a phenomenon that involves NCM (Day et al, 2019). Therefore, simultaneous modulation of D1- and D2-family receptors, or of D2-family receptors alone, might be necessary to emulate dopamine effects in NCM.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dopamine D1 receptor activation drives plasticity in the songbird auditory pallium

Macedo-Lima

Boyd

Remage‐Healey

2020

Preprint

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Vocal learning species must form and extensively hone associations between sounds and social contingencies. In songbirds, dopamine signaling guides song motor-production, variability, and motivation, but it is unclear how dopamine regulates fundamental auditory associations for learning new sounds. We hypothesized that dopamine regulates learning in the auditory pallium, in part by interacting with local neuroestradiol signaling. Here, we show that zebra finch auditory neurons frequently coexpress D1 receptor (D1R) protein, neuroestradiol-synthase, GABA, and parvalbumin. Auditory classical conditioning increased neuroplasticity gene induction in D1R-positive neurons. In vitro, D1R pharmacological activation reduced the amplitude of GABAergic and glutamatergic currents, and increased the latter’s frequency. In vivo, D1R activation reduced the firing of putative interneurons, increased the firing of putative excitatory neurons, and made both neuronal types unable to adapt to novel stimuli. Together, these data support the hypothesis that dopamine acting via D1Rs modulates learning and memory in the songbird sensory cortex.

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D2 dopamine receptor activation induces female preference for male song in the monogamous zebra finch

Cited by 19 publications

References 47 publications

Experimental evidence for a role of dopamine on avian personality traits

Experimental evidence for a role of dopamine on avian personality traits

Differences in dopamine and opioid receptor ratios in the nucleus accumbens relate to physical contact and undirected song in pair-bonded zebra finches.

Dopamine D1 receptor activation drives plasticity in the songbird auditory pallium

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