1
|
Zhao Y, Zhang X, Wang R, Bing J, Wu F, Zhang Y, Xu J, Han Z, Zhang X, Zeng S. Erbin and ErbB2 play roles in the sexual differentiation of the song system nucleus HVC in bengalese finches (Lonchura Striata var. domestica). Dev Neurobiol 2017; 78:15-38. [PMID: 29082632 DOI: 10.1002/dneu.22551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2017] [Revised: 09/20/2017] [Accepted: 10/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Song control nuclei have distinct sexual differences in songbirds. However, the mechanism that underlies the sexual differentiation of song nuclei is still not well understood. Using a combination of anatomical, pharmacological, genetic, and behavioral approaches, the present study investigated the role of erbb2 (a homolog of the avian erythroblastic leukemia viral oncogene homolog 2) and the erbb2-interacting gene, erbin, in the sexual differentiation of the song nucleus HVC in the Bengalese finch. We first found that both erbin and erbb2 were expressed in the developing HVC at posthatch day (PHD) 15 in a male-biased fashion using qRT-PCR and in situ hybridization. Following the addition of a pharmaceutical inhibitor of the ErbB2 signaling pathway to the culture medium, cell proliferation in the cultured ventricle zone (VZ) that overlies the developing HVC decreased significantly. After the injection of erbin- or erbb2-interfering lentiviruses into the HVC and its overlying VZ at PHD 15, the cell proliferation in the VZ at PHD 24, the number of the differentiated neurons (Hu+ /BrdU+ or NeuN+ /BrdU+ ) in the HVC at PHD 31 or PHD 130, and the number of RA-projecting cells at PHD 130 all decreased significantly. Additionally, the adult songs displayed serious abnormalities. Finally, 173 male-biased genes were expressed in the developing HVC at PHD 15 using cDNA microarrays, of which 27.2% were Z-linked genes and approximately 20 genes were involved in the Erbin- or ErbB2-related signaling pathways. Our results provide some specific genetic factors that contribute to neurogenesis and sex differentiation in a song nucleus of songbirds. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 78: 15-38, 2018.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yueliu Zhao
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Gene Resource and Molecular Development, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Xuebo Zhang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Gene Resource and Molecular Development, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China.,College of Life Sciences, Hainan Normal University, Haikou, 571158, China
| | - Rui Wang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Gene Resource and Molecular Development, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Jie Bing
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Gene Resource and Molecular Development, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Fan Wu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Gene Resource and Molecular Development, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Yitong Zhang
- College of Life Sciences, Hainan Normal University, Haikou, 571158, China
| | - Jincao Xu
- Department of Otorhinolaryngolgoy, The General Hospital of the PLA Rocket Force, Beijing, 100088, China
| | - Zhongming Han
- Department of Otorhinolaryngolgoy, The General Hospital of the PLA Rocket Force, Beijing, 100088, China
| | - Xinwen Zhang
- College of Life Sciences, Hainan Normal University, Haikou, 571158, China
| | - Shaoju Zeng
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Gene Resource and Molecular Development, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Sexual Differences in Cell Loss during the Post-Hatch Development of Song Control Nuclei in the Bengalese Finch. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0125802. [PMID: 25938674 PMCID: PMC4418719 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0125802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2014] [Accepted: 02/26/2015] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Birdsongs and the regions of their brain that control song exhibit obvious sexual differences. However, the mechanisms underlying these sexual dimorphisms remain unknown. To address this issue, we first examined apoptotic cells labeled with caspase-3 or TUNEL in Bengalese finch song control nuclei - the robust nucleus of the archopallium (RA), the lateral magnocellular nucleus of the anterior nidopallium (LMAN), the high vocal center (HVC) and Area X from post-hatch day (P) 15 to 120. Next, we investigated the expression dynamics of pro-apoptotic (Bid, Bad and Bax) and anti-apoptotic (Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL) genes in the aforementioned nuclei. Our results revealed that the female RA at P45 exhibited marked cell apoptosis, confirmed by low densities of Bcl-xL and Bcl-2. Both the male and female LMAN exhibited apoptotic peaks at P35 and P45, respectively, and the observed cell loss was more extensive in males. A corresponding sharp decrease in the density of Bcl-2 after P35 was observed in both sexes, and a greater density of Bid was noted at P45 in males. In addition, we observed that RA volume and the total number of BDNF-expressing cells decreased significantly after unilateral lesion of the LMAN or HVC (two areas that innervate the RA) and that greater numbers of RA-projecting cells were immunoreactive for BDNF in the LMAN than in the HVC. We reasoned that a decrease in the amount of BDNF transported via HVC afferent fibers might result in an increase in cell apoptosis in the female RA. Our data indicate that cell apoptosis resulting from different pro- and anti-apoptotic agents is involved in generating the differences between male and female song control nuclei.
Collapse
|
3
|
Laeremans A, Van de Plas B, Clerens S, Van den Bergh G, Arckens L, Hu TT. Protein expression dynamics during postnatal mouse brain development. J Exp Neurosci 2013; 7:61-74. [PMID: 25157209 PMCID: PMC4089830 DOI: 10.4137/jen.s12453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
We explored differential protein expression profiles in the mouse forebrain at different stages of postnatal development, including 10-day (P10), 30-day (P30), and adult (Ad) mice, by large-scale screening of proteome maps using two-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis. Mass spectrometry analysis resulted in the identification of 251 differentially expressed proteins. Most molecular changes were observed between P10 compared to both P30 and Ad. Computational ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA) confirmed these proteins as crucial molecules in the biological function of nervous system development. Moreover, IPA revealed Semaphorin signaling in neurons and the protein ubiquitination pathway as essential canonical pathways in the mouse forebrain during postnatal development. For these main biological pathways, the transcriptional regulation of the age-dependent expression of selected proteins was validated by means of in situ hybridization. In conclusion, we suggest that proteolysis and neurite outgrowth guidance are key biological processes, particularly during early brain maturation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Annelies Laeremans
- Laboratory of Neuroplasticity and Neuroproteomics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Babs Van de Plas
- Laboratory of Neuroplasticity and Neuroproteomics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Stefan Clerens
- Laboratory of Neuroplasticity and Neuroproteomics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. ; Group of Food & Bio-based Products, AgResearch Ltd., Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Gert Van den Bergh
- Laboratory of Neuroplasticity and Neuroproteomics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. ; Laboratory of Biological Psychology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lutgarde Arckens
- Laboratory of Neuroplasticity and Neuroproteomics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Tjing-Tjing Hu
- Laboratory of Neuroplasticity and Neuroproteomics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Garcia-Calero E, Scharff C. Calbindin expression in developing striatum of zebra finches and its relation to the formation of area X. J Comp Neurol 2013; 521:326-41. [PMID: 22740434 DOI: 10.1002/cne.23174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2011] [Revised: 04/02/2012] [Accepted: 06/20/2012] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
A sexually dimorphic network of brain regions controls learning and production of song in zebra finches. How this specialized song system evolved is unknown. To start addressing this question, we focused on developmental differences between the sexes, using the expression of the calcium-binding protein calbindin (CB) during embryonic to adult stages to map out the early development of Area X, a male-specific striatal structure. We related this pattern to the expression of three transcription factors, Pax6 and Islet1 to delineate the striatal radial domains, and Nkx2.1 as a marker for cells of pallidal origin. An incipient Area X-CB+ domain became discernable at embryonic day 13 in the Islet1-ventral striatal field. This region contained many Nkx2.1-expressing cells with a morphology characteristic of migrating cells. Eight days after hatching (PHD) CB staining clearly delineated Area X. Another CB+ structure formed around PHD5 at the subpallial/pallial boundary. We call it the CB+striatal capsule (CB-StC) and discuss its relation with the previously described striatal capsule in vertebrates. The CB cell population in both Area X and CB-StC, but not in the surrounding striatum, colocalized with the striatal medium spiny neurons (MSNs) marker, D1-receptor associated signaling protein dopamine-and-cAMP-regulated phosphoprotein of 32 kDa, DARPP32. In females, CB-positive cells were also present in the rostral striatum but did not coalesce into an Area X-like structure. We discuss possible reasons for CB expression in MSNs in songbirds and mammals, but not described in chicken striatum.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elena Garcia-Calero
- Department of Animal Behavior, Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | | |
Collapse
|
5
|
Identification of male-biased gene: Parvalbumin in song control nuclei of the Bengalese finch. Neurosci Res 2010; 68:22-34. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neures.2010.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2010] [Revised: 05/06/2010] [Accepted: 05/18/2010] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
|
6
|
Matsunaga E, Okanoya K. Vocal control area-related expression of neuropilin-1, plexin-A4, and the ligand semaphorin-3A has implications for the evolution of the avian vocal system. Dev Growth Differ 2009; 51:45-54. [PMID: 19128404 DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-169x.2008.01080.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
The avian vocal system is a good model for exploring the molecular basis of neural circuit evolution related to behavioral diversity. Previously, we conducted a comparative gene expression analysis among two different families of vocal learner, the Bengalese finch (Lonchura striata var. domestica), a songbird, and the budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus), a parrot; and a non-learner, the quail (Coturnix coturnix), to identify various axon guidance molecules such as cadherin and neuropilin-1 as vocal control area-related genes. Here, we continue with this study and examine the expression of neuropilin and related genes in these species in more detail. We found that neuropilin-1 and its coreceptor, plexin-A4, were expressed in several vocal control areas in both Bengalese finch and budgerigar brains. In addition, semaphorin-3A, the ligand of neuropilin-1, expression was not detected in vocal control areas in both species. Furthermore, there was some similar gene expression in the quail brain. These results suggest the possibility that a change in the expression of a combination of semaphorin/neuropilin/plexin was involved in the acquisition of vocal learning ability during evolution.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eiji Matsunaga
- Laboratory for Biolinguistics, RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Hirosawa 2-1, Wako, 351-0198, Japan.
| | | |
Collapse
|