Document Detail


The sexually dimorphic expression of L7/SPA, an estrogen receptor coactivator, in zebra finch telencephalon.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  17823931     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Sex differences in the zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata) brain are robust and include differences in morphology (song control nuclei in males are significantly larger) and behavior (only males sing courtship songs). In zebra finches, hormonal manipulations during development fail to reverse sex differences in song nuclei size and suggest that the classical model of sexual differentiation is incomplete for birds. Coactivators act to initiate transcriptional activity of steroid receptors, and may help explain why hormonal manipulations alone are not sufficient to demasculinize the male zebra finch brain. The present study investigated the expression and localization of L7/SPA (an estrogen receptor coactivator) mRNA and protein expression across the development of zebra finch song nuclei from males and females collected on P1 (song nuclei not yet formed), P10 (posthatch day 10, song nuclei formed), P30 (30 days posthatch, sexually immature but song nuclei formed and birds learning to sing), and adult birds (older than 65 days and sexually mature). Northern blot analysis showed a significant sex difference in P1 and adult L7/SPA mRNA expression while Western blot analysis also showed enhanced expression in the male brain at all age points. Both in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry demonstrated that L7/SPA mRNA and protein were located in the song nuclei as well as expressed globally. Elevated coactivator expression may be a possible mechanism controlling the development of male song control nuclei, and coactivators such as L7/SPA may be important regulators of the masculinizing effects of estradiol on brain sexual differentiation.
Authors:
Kelli A Duncan; Laura L Carruth
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Developmental neurobiology     Volume:  67     ISSN:  1932-8451     ISO Abbreviation:  Dev Neurobiol     Publication Date:  2007 Dec 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2007-11-13     Completed Date:  2008-03-27     Revised Date:  2011-09-22    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  101300215     Medline TA:  Dev Neurobiol     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  1852-66     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Animals
Animals, Newborn
Avian Proteins / genetics,  metabolism
Base Sequence
Cloning, Molecular
Female
Finches / physiology*
Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / physiology
In Situ Hybridization
Male
Sex Characteristics*
Telencephalon / anatomy & histology,  physiology*
Transcription Factors / genetics,  metabolism*
Grant Support
ID/Acronym/Agency:
DC000217/DC/NIDCD NIH HHS; F31 DC008756-01A2/DC/NIDCD NIH HHS
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Avian Proteins; 0/Transcription Factors

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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