Olson Christopher R, Hodges Lisa K, Mello Claudio V
Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road L470, Portland, Oregon, 97239-3098.
Biology Department, Lewis and Clark College, 0615 S.W. Palatine Hill Road, Portland, Oregon 97219.
Dev Neurobiol. 2015 Dec;75(12):1315-38. doi: 10.1002/dneu.22286. Epub 2015 Mar 20.
The brain circuitry that controls song learning and production undergoes marked changes in morphology and connectivity during the song learning period in juvenile zebra finches, in parallel to the acquisition, practice and refinement of song. Yet, the genetic programs and timing of regulatory change that establish the neuronal connectivity and plasticity during this critical learning period remain largely undetermined. To address this question, we used in situ hybridization to compare the expression patterns of a set of 30 known robust molecular markers of HVC and/or area X, major telencephalic song nuclei, between adult and juvenile male zebra finches at different ages during development (20, 35, 50 days post-hatch, dph). We found that several of the genes examined undergo substantial changes in expression within HVC or its surrounds, and/or in other song nuclei. They fit into broad patterns of regulation, including those whose expression within HVC during this period increases (COL12A1, COL 21A1, MPZL1, PVALB, and CXCR7) or decreases (e.g., KCNT2, SAP30L), as well as some that show decreased expression in the surrounding tissue with little change within song nuclei (e.g. SV2B, TAC1). These results reveal a broad range of molecular changes that occur in the song system in concert with the song learning period. Some of the genes and pathways identified are potential modulators of the developmental changes associated with the emergence of the adult properties of the song control system, and/or the acquisition of learned vocalizations in songbirds.
在幼年斑胸草雀的歌曲学习期，控制歌曲学习和产生的大脑神经回路在形态和连接性上会发生显著变化，这与歌曲的习得、练习和完善过程同步。然而，在这个关键学习期建立神经元连接性和可塑性的基因程序以及调控变化的时间仍 largely 未确定。为了解决这个问题，我们使用原位杂交技术，比较了发育过程中不同年龄（孵化后20、35、50天，dph）的成年和幼年雄性斑胸草雀中，一组30个已知的HVC和/或X区（主要的端脑歌曲核团）的强大分子标记的表达模式。我们发现，所检测的几个基因在HVC及其周围，和/或在其他歌曲核团中的表达发生了实质性变化。它们符合广泛的调控模式，包括在此期间HVC内表达增加的那些基因（COL12A1、COL21A1、MPZL1、PVALB和CXCR7）或减少的那些基因（例如KCNT2、SAP30L），以及一些在周围组织中表达减少而在歌曲核团中变化不大的基因（例如SV2B、TAC1）。这些结果揭示了在歌曲学习期，歌曲系统中发生的广泛分子变化。所鉴定的一些基因和途径是与歌曲控制系统成年特性的出现相关的发育变化，和/或鸣禽习得发声的潜在调节因子。
