Rose Evangeline M, Haakenson Chelsea M, Stennette Katherine, Patel Aliyah, Gaind Shivika, Shank Benjamin D, Madison Farrah N, Ball Gregory F
Department of Psychology, University of Maryland, College Park MD, USA; Program in Neuroscience and Cognitive Science, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.
Department of Psychology, University of Maryland, College Park MD, USA; Program in Neuroscience and Cognitive Science, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.
Physiol Behav. 2022 Jun 1;250:113782. doi: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2022.113782. Epub 2022 Mar 18.
Male song in songbirds is a critical and elaborate signal for mate attraction. In many species female listeners respond to male song both behaviorally and physiologically (e.g. copulation solicitation displays and production of the immediate early gene ZENK in auditory regions). It is becoming increasingly well known that females in many species also sing. However, in common lab species, such as canaries (Serinus canaria), female song is limited and has been primarily studied in the context of administering of exogenous testosterone (T) to increase song rate and length. In this study we addressed to what extent female canary songs are masculinized by the administration of exogenous T based on the behavioral and physiological responses of avian receivers. Specifically, are T induced female songs sufficient to elicit courtship behaviors and auditory ZENK expression in female listeners? We found that female songs after 3 weeks of exogenous T were significantly longer and more complex than female songs after 12 weeks of exogenous T. Additionally, we found that playback of 3-week T song significantly increased sexual response behaviors and the expression of ZENK in the auditory brain regions of female listeners. Finally, we conclude that extended periods of T do not necessarily maintain the masculinization of female song.
鸣禽中的雄鸟鸣唱是吸引配偶的关键且复杂的信号。在许多物种中，雌性听众会对雄鸟鸣唱产生行为和生理上的反应（例如求偶展示以及听觉区域中即早基因ZENK的产生）。越来越多的人知道，许多物种中的雌性也会唱歌。然而，在常见的实验物种中，如金丝雀（Serinus canaria），雌鸟鸣唱有限，并且主要是在给予外源性睾酮（T）以提高歌唱速率和时长的背景下进行研究。在这项研究中，我们根据鸟类接收者的行为和生理反应，探讨了外源性T给药使雌金丝雀歌声男性化的程度。具体而言，T诱导的雌鸟鸣唱是否足以引发雌性听众的求偶行为和听觉ZENK表达？我们发现，外源性T处理3周后的雌鸟鸣唱比外源性T处理12周后的雌鸟鸣唱明显更长且更复杂。此外，我们发现播放3周T处理后的歌声显著增加了雌性听众的性反应行为以及听觉脑区中ZENK的表达。最后，我们得出结论，长时间的T处理不一定能维持雌鸟鸣唱的男性化。
