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Gray SL, Lam EK, Henao-Diaz LF, Jalabert C, Soma KK. Effect of a Territorial Challenge on the Steroid Profile of a Juvenile Songbird. Neuroscience 2024; 541:118-132. [PMID: 38301739 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2024.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
Aggression is a social behavior that is critical for survival and reproduction. In adults, circulating gonadal hormones, such as androgens, act on neural circuits to modulate aggressive interactions, especially in reproductive contexts. In many species, individuals also demonstrate aggression before reaching gonadal maturation. Adult male song sparrows, Melospiza melodia, breed seasonally but maintain territories year-round. Juvenile (hatch-year) males aggressively compete for territory ownership during their first winter when circulating testosterone is low. Here, we characterized the relationship between the steroid milieu and aggressive behavior in free-living juvenile male song sparrows in winter. We investigated the effect of a 10 min simulated territorial intrusion (STI) on behavior and steroid levels in blood, 10 microdissected brain regions, and four peripheral tissues (liver, pectoral muscle, adrenal glands, and testes). Using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), we quantified 12 steroids: pregnenolone, progesterone, corticosterone, 11-dehydrocorticosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone, androstenedione, testosterone, 5α-dihydrotestosterone, 17β-estradiol, 17α-estradiol, estrone, and estriol. We found that juvenile males are robustly aggressive, like adult males. An STI increases progesterone and corticosterone levels in blood and brain and increases 11-dehydrocorticosterone levels in blood only. Pregnenolone, androgens, and estrogens are generally non-detectable and are not affected by an STI. In peripheral tissues, steroid concentrations are very high in the adrenals. These data suggest that adrenal steroids, such as progesterone and corticosterone, might promote juvenile aggression and that juvenile and adult songbirds might rely on distinct neuroendocrine mechanisms to support similar aggressive behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia L Gray
- Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
| | - Emma K Lam
- Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - L Francisco Henao-Diaz
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Biodiversity Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Cecilia Jalabert
- Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Kiran K Soma
- Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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Akçay Ç, Campbell SE, Darling S, Beecher MD. Territory establishment, song learning strategies and survival in song sparrows. Ethology 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.13014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Çağlar Akçay
- Department of Psychology Koç University Istanbul Turkey
- Department of Biological Sciences Virginia Tech Blacksburg VA USA
| | | | - Saethra Darling
- Department of Psychology University of Washington Seattle WA USA
| | - Michael D. Beecher
- Department of Psychology University of Washington Seattle WA USA
- Department of Biology University of Washington Seattle WA USA
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