Examining a pathway for hormone mediated maternal effects – Yolk testosterone affects androgen receptor expression and endogenous testosterone production in young chicks (Gallus gallus domesticus)

Pfannkuche, K.A.; Gahr, Manfred; Weites, I. M.; Riedstra, Bernd; Wolf, Cynthia J.; Groothuis, Ton G. G.

doi:10.1016/j.ygcen.2011.04.014

Cited by 42 publications

(38 citation statements)

References 55 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Lowered plasma testosterone concentrations following an in ovo manipulation of the yolk testosterone levels have been reported for two week old chickens (Pfannkuche et al, 2011), while two previous studies in quail respectively spotless starlings reported rather increased testosterone production post-hatching (Daisley et al, 2005;Müller et al, 2007). No differences were found in chicken embryos and in adult house sparrows measured in their fist spring (Partecke and Schwabl, 2008), when testosterone levels are typically elevated.…”

Section: Initial Differences Between Yt-and Yc-males Prior To Testostmentioning

confidence: 78%

“…One pathway that has often been suggested is that yolk androgens alter the functioning of the hypothalamus-pituitarygonadal (HPG) axis, leading to changes in sex steroid production. This has indeed been shown, but the directions of these effects varied: a non-significant increase following yolk T injections in quail chicks (Daisley et al, 2005), a significant increase in spotless starling chicks (Müller et al, 2007), a decrease in chicks of the domestic chicken (Pfannkuche et al, 2011), while there were no effects in chicken embryos and adult house sparrows (Partecke and Schwabl, 2008) (see also Table 1). …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 77%

“…Egg food (van Camp, Belgium) was initially provided once a week, but daily as soon as chicks hatched. Egg laying was checked daily in the early morning a Pfannkuche et al (2013). b Pfannkuche et al (2011).…”

Section: History Of the Experimental Animalsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Egg laying was checked daily in the early morning a Pfannkuche et al (2013). b Pfannkuche et al (2011). c Daisley et al (2005).…”

Section: History Of the Experimental Animalsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Testosterone influences song behaviour and social dominance – But independent of prenatal yolk testosterone exposure

Vergauwen

Groothuis

Eens

et al. 2014

General and Comparative Endocrinology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

a b s t r a c tIn the last two decades, maternally derived yolk androgens have been shown to significantly alter offspring development, and a number of these effects persist into adulthood. However, little is known about their underlying mechanisms. Mechanisms that have been suggested are changes in the endogenous androgen production post-hatching or changes in the sensitivity towards circulating androgens.We tested the effects of yolk testosterone on the plasma testosterone levels and the sensitivity to testosterone in 5 months old male canaries that hatched from eggs that were either injected with testosterone (yT-males) or with a control solution (yC-males). Changes in sensitivity were investigated via the behavioural response to an experimental elevation of the plasma testosterone levels. We performed the experiment in fall (low endogenous testosterone production), focusing on testosterone dependent response traits (aggression and song).Before implantation, there was a non-significant trend that the plasma testosterone levels were lower in yT-males than in yC-males. Elevating the plasma testosterone concentrations increased aggressiveness, song bout length and similarity of repeated song elements (=consistency), with the latter likely being a consequence of testosterone-driven song crystallization. However, these effects were not different among yT-or yC-males in any of the parameters. Thus, our findings render it unlikely that changes in the sensitivity to testosterone post-hatching would form the main underlying mechanism of hormonemediated maternal effects in birds. Further experiments are urgently needed in order to understand the nature of the phenotypic effects resulting from embryonic exposure to maternal yolk testosterone.

show abstract

Section: Initial Differences Between Yt-and Yc-males Prior To Testostmentioning

confidence: 78%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 77%

Section: History Of the Experimental Animalsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Egg laying was checked daily in the early morning a Pfannkuche et al (2013). b Pfannkuche et al (2011). c Daisley et al (2005).…”

Section: History Of the Experimental Animalsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Testosterone influences song behaviour and social dominance – But independent of prenatal yolk testosterone exposure

Vergauwen

Groothuis

Eens

et al. 2014

General and Comparative Endocrinology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Thus, endogenous testosterone regulation may have a crucial role in determining food intake and ultimately chick survival during a life stage where harsh competition by siblings can strongly increase the risk of starvation depending upon food availability. In birds, prenatal exposure to testosterone of maternal origin is can affect the density of androgen receptors in the hypothalamic region and the amount of endogenous T production in the first week after hatching (Pfannkuche et al, 2011). Thus, our study possibly also shed light on one of the mechanisms by which systematic variation over the laying sequence in the allocation of androgens of maternal origin can differentially affect the fitness of single brood mates (e.g.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 71%

Effect of rapid modulation of circulating plasma testosterone concentration on begging, aggressive behavior and competition for food in black-headed gull (Larus ridibundus) chicks

Boncoraglio

Groothuis

2013

Hormones and Behavior

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Sibling competition mediated by begging behavior is extremely common in avian species and recent studies have highlighted the role of endogenous testosterone in regulating such phenomenon. However, current literature depicts an inconsistent pattern in altricial vs. semi-precocial species, with stimulating versus inhibitory effects of the hormone respectively. This is possibly due to a difference in the methodology of hormone treatment (short-term moderate dose versus a long-term stronger elevation, respectively) between the studies performed so far. In this study, we induced short-term moderate peaks in plasma testosterone levels, as applied in altricial bird species, and assessed the effects of our manipulation on begging, competitive and aggressive behavior in black-headed gull (Larus ridibundus) chicks, a semi-precocial species. Our results suggest that, unlike in altricial songbirds, temporary increase of plasma testosterone concentration suppresses begging and enhances aggressiveness towards intruders. However, it also increases aggression and the chances of getting priority while scrambling with nest mates to gain access to food. Thus, the inconsistencies in the hormonal control of begging behavior observed between altricial vs. semi-precocial birds seem real and perhaps related to species differences in complexity of the display and the nature of competition. These may be elucidated by future comparative studies.

show abstract

Testosterone alters genomic responses to song and monoaminergic innervation of auditory areas in a seasonally breeding songbird

Matragrano

LeBlanc

Chitrapu

et al. 2013

Developmental Neurobiology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Behavioral responses to social stimuli often vary according to endocrine state. Our previous work has suggested that such changes in behavior may be due in part to hormone-dependent sensory processing. In the auditory forebrain of female white-throated sparrows, expression of the immediate early gene ZENK (egr-1) is higher in response to conspecific song than to a control sound only when plasma estradiol reaches breeding-typical levels. Estradiol also increases the number of detectable noradrenergic neurons in the locus coeruleus and the density of noradrenergic and serotonergic fibers innervating auditory areas. We hypothesize, therefore, that reproductive hormones alter auditory responses by acting on monoaminergic systems. This possibility has not been examined in males. Here, we treated non-breeding male white-throated sparrows with testosterone to mimic breeding-typical levels and then exposed them to conspecific male song or frequency-matched tones. We observed selective ZENK responses in the caudomedial nidopallium only in the testosterone-treated males. Responses in another auditory area, the caudomedial mesopallium, were selective regardless of hormone treatment. Testosterone treatment reduced serotonergic fiber density in the auditory forebrain, thalamus, and midbrain, and although it increased the number of noradrenergic neurons detected in the locus coeruleus, it reduced noradrenergic fiber density in the auditory midbrain. Thus, whereas we previously reported that estradiol enhances monoaminergic innervation of the auditory pathway in females, we show here that testosterone decreases it in males. Mechanisms underlying testosterone-dependent selectivity of the ZENK response may differ from estradiol-dependent ones

show abstract

Examining a pathway for hormone mediated maternal effects – Yolk testosterone affects androgen receptor expression and endogenous testosterone production in young chicks (Gallus gallus domesticus)

Abstract: Examining a pathway for hormone mediated maternal effects -Yolk testosterone affects androgen receptor expression and endogenous testosterone production in young chicks (Gallus gallus domesticus) Pfannkuche, K. A.; Gahr, M.; Weites, I. M.; Riedstra, Bernd; Wolf, C.; Groothuis, Ton

Cited by 42 publications

References 55 publications

Testosterone influences song behaviour and social dominance – But independent of prenatal yolk testosterone exposure

Testosterone influences song behaviour and social dominance – But independent of prenatal yolk testosterone exposure

Effect of rapid modulation of circulating plasma testosterone concentration on begging, aggressive behavior and competition for food in black-headed gull (Larus ridibundus) chicks

Testosterone alters genomic responses to song and monoaminergic innervation of auditory areas in a seasonally breeding songbird

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About