Laboratory for Symbolic Cognitive Development, RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Wako 351-0198 Japan.
Dev Growth Differ. 2011 Dec;53(9):961-70. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-169X.2011.01302.x. Epub 2011 Oct 20.
Mineralocorticoid receptor is the receptor for corticosteroids such as corticosterone or aldosterone. Previously, we found that mineralocorticoid receptor was highly expressed in song nuclei of a songbird, Bengalese finch (Lonchura striata var. domestica). Here, to examine the relationship between mineralocorticoid receptor expression and avian vocal learning, we analyzed mineralocorticoid receptor expression in the developing brain of another vocal learner, budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus) and non-vocal learners, quail (Coturnix japonica) and ring dove (Streptopelia capicola). Mineralocorticoid receptor showed vocal control area-related expressions in budgerigars as Bengalese finches, whereas no such mineralocorticoid receptor expressions were seen in the telencephalon of non-vocal learners. Thus, these results suggest the possibility that mineralocorticoid receptor plays a role in vocal development of parrots as songbirds and that the acquisition of mineralocorticoid receptor expression is involved in the evolution of avian vocal learning.
矿皮质激素受体是皮质甾醇如皮质酮或醛固酮的受体。此前，我们发现矿皮质激素受体在鸣禽（文鸟，Lonchura striata var. domestica）的鸣禽核中高度表达。在这里，为了研究矿皮质激素受体表达与鸟类发声学习之间的关系，我们分析了另一种发声学习者（虎皮鹦鹉，Melopsittacus undulatus）和非发声学习者（鹌鹑，Coturnix japonica）和斑鸠（Streptopelia capicola）在发育中的大脑中的矿皮质激素受体表达。像文鸟一样，矿皮质激素受体在虎皮鹦鹉中表现出与发声控制区相关的表达，而在非发声学习者的端脑中则没有这种矿皮质激素受体表达。因此，这些结果表明矿皮质激素受体可能在鹦鹉作为鸣禽的发声发育中发挥作用，并且矿皮质激素受体表达的获得可能涉及鸟类发声学习的进化。
