Ebinger P
Institute of Zoology, Hannover Veterinary School, Germany.
Brain Behav Evol. 1995;45(5):286-300. doi: 10.1159/000113557.
The sizes and histological differentiation of structures in the central nervous system of wild and domestic ducks were compared using allometric methods. Whole brain volume is 14.3% less in domestic ducks than in wild birds, and the size of certain brain structures is more variable in domestic ducks than in the wild birds. These findings are consistent with results of studies in other domestic birds and in domestic mammals. Although the brain subdivision volumes are not reduced to the same extent, the relative composition of the brain is maintained in domestic ducks. The overall reduction in rhombencephalic parts of the brain (16.3%) is greater than that in the prosencephalon (13.5%). Within sensory centers the nuclei of the trigeminal system undergo the most marked decrease (21.3%). Optic (13.3%) and limbic (11.1%) structures are less reduced, and the olfactory regions do not show any differences in volume compared to these regions in wild mallards. Reductions in the volumes of brain structures in domesticated animals have been thought to be processes of functional adaptation controlled by artificial selection. Our observations are discussed with regard to hypotheses about trends in domestication and evolutionary plasticity.
使用异速生长方法比较了野鸭和家鸭中枢神经系统结构的大小及组织学分化。家鸭的全脑体积比野生鸟类小14.3%，而且家鸭某些脑结构的大小比野生鸟类更具变异性。这些发现与其他家鸟和家哺乳动物的研究结果一致。虽然脑分区体积减少的程度不同，但家鸭脑的相对组成保持不变。脑桥后脑部分的总体减少量（16.3%）大于前脑（13.5%）。在感觉中枢内，三叉神经系统的核团减少最为明显（21.3%）。视觉结构（13.3%）和边缘系统结构（11.1%）减少较少，与野生绿头鸭相比，嗅觉区域的体积没有差异。家养动物脑结构体积的减少被认为是人工选择控制的功能适应过程。我们结合关于驯化趋势和进化可塑性的假说对我们的观察结果进行了讨论。
