Date of Award
2011
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science
Program
Biology
Supervisor
Dr. Scott MacDougall-Shackleton
Abstract
The song-control system is a network of discrete nuclei in the songbird brain that controls the production and learning of birdsong, and exhibits some of the greatest neuroplasticity found in the adult brain. This plasticity is driven by the gonadal steroid testosterone. When acting on neural tissue, however, testosterone can be metabolized into 5a-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) or 17|3-estradiol (E2), which activate different hormonal signalling pathways. By treating adult starlings with both testosterone metabolites and metabolite antagonists, I isolated the effects of DHT and E2 treatment on neuroplasticity in the song-control system. E2 treatment induced some, but not all neuroplastic effects
reported with testosterone treatment. Conversely, DHT treatment induced no neuroplasticity. I documented the first evidence of sex-specific neuroplasticity in the songbird. These findings suggest that DHT and E2 signalling alone do not account for all songbird neuroplasticity and that future studies should account for species and sex differences in the brain.
Recommended Citation
Hall, Zachary Jonas, "THE NEUROPLASTIC RESPONSE OF THE SONG-CONTROL SYSTEM TO TESTOSTERONE METABOLITES IN THE ADULT EUROPEAN STARLING (Sturnus vulgaris)" (2011). Digitized Theses. 3565.
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/digitizedtheses/3565