Eyck Gary R Ten, Regen Erin M, Ten Eyck Sarah E, Korzan Wayne J, Summers Cliff H
Department of Foundations of Medicine, NYU Grossman Long Island School of Medicine, Mineola, NY, 11501, USA.
Biopsychology Area, Department of Psychology, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol. 2025 May;211(3):293-309. doi: 10.1007/s00359-025-01732-x. Epub 2025 Feb 5.
Monoaminergic neurotransmitters are essential for a multitude of physiological and behavioral functions including territoriality and parental care. The Puerto Rican coquí frog, Eleutherodactylus coqui, possesses an intriguing multi-modal male behavioral organization whereby males can be territorial, paternal, and silent (non-calling). The objective of this study was to quantify central monoamines in the three male modes and integrate this neurochemistry with data from microhabitat shelter selection and male social structure. Males were assessed for monoamines and metabolites using high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. Results indicated that there are distinct and significant differences among the three male behavioral modes based on male social structure, microhabitat shelter selection, and neurochemistry. Silent males are non-combative, quiescent, occur nocturnally in relatively open locations with sparser vegetation, and are characterized by high levels of epinephrine and norepinephrine in several forebrain nuclei. Territorial males emit vocalizations, are typically surrounded by more vegetation than silent males, may have a silent male within their territory, and are denoted by significantly higher levels of norepinephrine in the preoptic area and ventral hypothalamus and dopamine in the amygdala responsible male territorial behaviors. Paternal males brood and guard developing embryos in secluded nest sites that are surrounded by vegetation, not within territories of residential males, and typically not in close proximity of silent males. Paternal brains have significantly higher levels epinephrine and serotonin in the raphe and reticular nuclei indicating the necessity to regulate metabolic processes and stress during the period of prolong paternal care.
单胺能神经递质对于包括领地行为和育幼行为在内的多种生理和行为功能至关重要。波多黎各寇奎蛙（Eleutherodactylus coqui）具有一种有趣的多模式雄性行为组织，雄性可以表现出领地行为、育幼行为以及安静状态（不鸣叫）。本研究的目的是量化三种雄性行为模式下的中枢单胺，并将这种神经化学与微生境庇护所选择和雄性社会结构的数据相结合。使用高效液相色谱电化学检测法对雄性进行单胺和代谢物评估。结果表明，基于雄性社会结构、微生境庇护所选择和神经化学，三种雄性行为模式之间存在明显且显著的差异。安静的雄性不具攻击性、安静，夜间出现在植被相对稀疏的较为开阔的地方，其特征是几个前脑核中肾上腺素和去甲肾上腺素水平较高。有领地意识的雄性会发出叫声，通常比安静的雄性周围有更多植被，其领地内可能有一只安静的雄性，其视前区和腹侧下丘脑去甲肾上腺素水平显著较高，杏仁核中多巴胺水平较高，这些负责雄性领地行为。育幼的雄性在被植被包围的隐蔽巢穴中孵化并守护发育中的胚胎，这些巢穴不在居住雄性的领地内，通常也不靠近安静的雄性。育幼雄性的大脑中缝核和网状核中的肾上腺素和血清素水平显著更高，这表明在延长的育幼期调节代谢过程和应激的必要性。
