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The Journal of Neuroscience, October 28, 2009, 29(43):13557-13565; doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1788-09.2009

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Development/Plasticity/Repair
Structural Changes between Seasons in the Songbird Auditory Forebrain

Geert De Groof,¹ Marleen Verhoye,^1,2 Colline Poirier,¹ Alexander Leemans,³ Marcel Eens,⁴ Veerle M. Darras,⁵ and Annemie Van der Linden¹

¹Bio-Imaging Laboratory, University of Antwerp, B-2020 Antwerp, Belgium, ²Vision Laboratory, University of Antwerp, B-2610 Wilrijk (Antwerp), Belgium, ³Image Sciences Institute, Department of Radiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands, ⁴Ethology Research Group, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, B-2610 Wilrijk, Belgium, and ⁵Animal Physiology and Neurobiology Section, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium

Correspondence should be addressed to Geert De Groof, Bio-Imaging Laboratory, University of Antwerp, CGB, Groenenborgerlaan 171, B-2020 Antwerp, Belgium. Email: Geert.DeGroof{at}ua.ac.be

The song control system (SCS) of seasonal songbirds shows remarkable seasonal plasticity. Male starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) sing throughout the year, but in the breeding season, when concentrations of testosterone are elevated, the song is highly sexually motivated. The main goal of this study was to investigate structural seasonal changes in regions involved in auditory processing and in socio-sexual behavior. Using in vivo Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI), we measured in breeding and nonbreeding seasons volume and tissue characteristics of several brain regions of nine adult male starlings. We demonstrate that the songbird brain exhibits an extreme seasonal plasticity not merely limited to the SCS. Volumetric analysis showed seasonal telencephalon volume changes and more importantly also a volumetric change in the caudal region of the nidopallium (NCM), a region analogous to the mammalian secondary auditory cortex. Analysis of the DTI data allowed detection of seasonal changes in cellular attributes in NCM and regions involved in social behavior. This study extends our view on a seasonally dynamic avian brain which not only hones its song control system but also auditory and social systems to be prepared for the breeding season.

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Received April 14, 2009; revised Aug. 31, 2009; accepted Sept. 28, 2009.

Correspondence should be addressed to Geert De Groof, Bio-Imaging Laboratory, University of Antwerp, CGB, Groenenborgerlaan 171, B-2020 Antwerp, Belgium. Email: Geert.DeGroof{at}ua.ac.be

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