Deposition of Pigment in the Sparrow′s Bill in Response to Direct Applications as a Specific and Quantitative Test for Androgen11

Pfeiffer, Carl J.; Hooker, Charles W.; Kirschbaum, Arthur

doi:10.1210/endo-34-6-389

Cited by 26 publications

(7 citation statements)

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“…To indirectly examine the predicted effect of treatment on hormone levels and thus provide a mecha-nistic explanation for the changes in badge size, in 1 yr, we measured bill colour once during moult as an indicator of average testosterone levels (Keck 1933;Witschi 1936;Pfeiffer et al 1944;Laucht et al 2010). We found that males with smaller badges in the uniform treatment had darker bills, suggesting they had higher testosterone levels, and males with larger badges had paler bills and thus lower testosterone levels.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…In addition, male House Sparrows possess a range of ornaments of which the size of the black breast bib or badge has been widely studied and is commonly accepted as a badge of status (Møller 1987a,b;Veiga 1995;Hein et al 2003). In addition, males possess a second ornament, bill colour, which changes from horn to black between the non-breeding and breeding season and can be used as a dynamic indicator of a 'running average' of recent testosterone levels (Keck 1933;Witschi 1936;Pfeiffer et al 1944;Laucht et al 2010). In addition, males possess a second ornament, bill colour, which changes from horn to black between the non-breeding and breeding season and can be used as a dynamic indicator of a 'running average' of recent testosterone levels (Keck 1933;Witschi 1936;Pfeiffer et al 1944;Laucht et al 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Across various studies, badge size has been found to correlate with overall fighting success (Møller 1987b;Liker & Barta 2001;McGraw et al 2003;Bó kony et al 2006;Morrison et al 2008), age (Veiga 1993;Morrison et al 2008) and testosterone levels (Evans et al 2000;Buchanan et al 2001;Gonzalez et al 2001;Laucht et al 2011). In addition, males possess a second ornament, bill colour, which changes from horn to black between the non-breeding and breeding season and can be used as a dynamic indicator of a 'running average' of recent testosterone levels (Keck 1933;Witschi 1936;Pfeiffer et al 1944;Laucht et al 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Development of Badges of Status in Captive Male House Sparrows (Passer domesticus) in Relation to the Relative Ornamentation of Flock‐Mates

Laucht

Dale

2012

Ethology

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The development of quality signals is expected to be largely influenced by environmental conditions among which the social environment could be an important factor, particularly in gregarious animals. Here, we investigated the role of the presumed social environment on the development of badge size in moulting male House Sparrows (Passer domesticus) over a 3‐yr time span. House Sparrow badges are testosterone‐dependent ornaments that are typically argued to be ‘badges of status’ –that is, signals of competitive ability and aggression. Immediately prior to moult, we created several groups of males, either with similarly sized badges or with badges of different sizes, and we measured each male's badge size before and after moult. The former groups were presumed to have a less clear social hierarchy than the latter groups because of group members advertising relatively similar competitive ability (and thus were expected to more frequently challenge one another in order to establish dominance). Conversely, the latter groups were presumed to have relatively higher social stability because birds would less frequently encounter rivals advertising similar agonistic threat. We predicted in groups of birds with similarly sized badges, both (1) larger changes (i.e. increases or decreases) in badge sizes and (2) higher increases in between‐individual variation within groups. The first prediction was supported in one of the 3 yrs, but there was no support for the second prediction in any year. We conclude that social environment has an effect on the development of badges of status, but that it is highly contingent on the specific nature and timing of group interactions.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Development of Badges of Status in Captive Male House Sparrows (Passer domesticus) in Relation to the Relative Ornamentation of Flock‐Mates

Laucht

Dale

2012

Ethology

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“…According to Pfeiffer et al (1944) and Engels (1959), testosterone produced a local pigmentation of the beak in the English Sparrow (Passer domesticus) and the Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus), respectively. In Brown Leghorn fowl, however, testosterone has no effect on the pigmentary pattern in males (Juhn andGustavson 1930), andHamilton (1941) stated that testosterone inhibits the differentiation of black melanocytes in the chick.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Relationship of Gonadal Recrudescence and Testicular Melanogenesis in California Quail

Anthony¹,

Buss²

1974

The Condor

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“…Gonadal steroids appear to be intimately involved in the regulation of pigmentation. Androgens stimulate melanogenesis in birds (1,2), rats (3)(4)(5)(6), hamsters (7-9), 13-line ground squirrels (10), and humans (11), while apparently having no effect on guinea pigs (12). In rats, testosterone alters scrotal skin melanocyte structure and melanin biosynthesis from tyrosine (3)(4)(5)(6).…”

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confidence: 99%

Effects of Gonadal Steroids on Melanocytes in Developing Hamsters

Diaz

Gupta

Beattie

1986

Pediatric Dermatology

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The effects of chronically administered 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone and estradiol-17 beta on the dorsal costovertebral spots and scrotal skin of intact and hypophysectomized prepubertal male Syrian hamsters were analyzed morphometrically. The 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone increased pigmentation (optical density) of costovertebral spots and scrotal skin without altering the percentage of pigmented area in intact animals. Spot size and pigment density also increased significantly in hypophysectomized hamsters, but there was no change in the percentage of pigmented area. The 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone did not alter the percentage of pigmentation in any area of scrotal skin in hypophysectomized animals. In contrast, estradiol produced a dose-related decrease in the number of scrotal skin melanocytes in intact animals. The androgen-induced increase in pigmentation of costovertebral spot hair follicles was reversed by estradiol, which increased pigmentation around the sebaceous glands. These observations suggest that androgenic stimulation of pigmentation in male hamsters is direct, takes place prior to puberty, is probably tissue specific, and is antagonized by estrogens. The differential response to these steroids of melanocytes adjacent to hair follicles and around the perimeter of sebaceous glands may result from changes in the oxidation state of premelanin, an alteration in melanocyte size and shape, or an actual change in the rate of melanin synthesis.

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Deposition of Pigment in the Sparrow′s Bill in Response to Direct Applications as a Specific and Quantitative Test for Androgen11

Cited by 26 publications

References 0 publications

Development of Badges of Status in Captive Male House Sparrows (Passer domesticus) in Relation to the Relative Ornamentation of Flock‐Mates

Development of Badges of Status in Captive Male House Sparrows (Passer domesticus) in Relation to the Relative Ornamentation of Flock‐Mates

Relationship of Gonadal Recrudescence and Testicular Melanogenesis in California Quail

Effects of Gonadal Steroids on Melanocytes in Developing Hamsters

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