Unknown

Dataset Information

0

Post-transcriptional regulation of zenk expression associated with zebra finch vocal development.


ABSTRACT: In the male zebra finch, highly variable juvenile song and stereotyped adult song induce mRNA expression of the immediate early gene zenk in telencephalon. However, the functional consequences of this behavior-driven gene expression remain unknown. Here we characterize the developmental expression of zenk mRNA and protein in two forebrain song regions (HVC, the higher vocal center, and RA, the robust nucleus of the archistriatum). In HVC, singing results in similar percentages of cells producing zenk mRNA and zenk protein at different stages of vocal development. Similarly, song behavior at all stages of vocal development induces a comparable percentage of RA cells expressing zenk mRNA. However, the percentage of RA zenk immunoreactive cells is low during early vocal learning, increasing only as the vocal pattern matures. Early induction of a stereotyped vocal pattern in juvenile birds is associated with increased zenk immunoreactivity in RA, indicating that it is the form of the behavior (and not the age of the bird) that correlates with changes in zenk immunoreactivity. Together, our findings reveal a previously unrecognized relationship between behavioral development and post-transcriptional gene regulation.

SUBMITTER: Whitney O 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4249626 | biostudies-literature | 2000 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

altmetric image

Publications

Post-transcriptional regulation of zenk expression associated with zebra finch vocal development.

Whitney O O   Soderstrom K K   Johnson F F  

Brain research. Molecular brain research 20000901 2


In the male zebra finch, highly variable juvenile song and stereotyped adult song induce mRNA expression of the immediate early gene zenk in telencephalon. However, the functional consequences of this behavior-driven gene expression remain unknown. Here we characterize the developmental expression of zenk mRNA and protein in two forebrain song regions (HVC, the higher vocal center, and RA, the robust nucleus of the archistriatum). In HVC, singing results in similar percentages of cells producing  ...[more]

Similar Datasets

| S-EPMC8795483 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC5826274 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC3112232 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC7031510 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC2873334 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC4673629 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC3075806 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC2996964 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC5218492 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC3130106 | biostudies-literature