Female Stimuli Trigger Gene Expression in Male Pigeons
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2009
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.1080/17470910801936803
Abstract
The immediate early gene zenk encodes transcriptional regulators and is believed to be one of the first steps in the formation of long-term memories associated with a given stimulus. In this study, we investigated the expression of ZENK protein product in brain regions that are likely involved in the processing of social stimuli, such as a potential mate. Male pigeons (Columba livia) were exposed to one of the following: (1) a live female pigeon, (2) a video playback of a female pigeon, (3) a video playback of a female cockatoo, or (4) an empty stimulus chamber. The brains were then processed immunohistochemically using an antibody against ZENK protein. When the stimulus was a live pigeon compared to all other stimuli, there were more numerous and more darkly-stained ZENK-positive cells in three “association” regions of the telencephalon: the hyperpallium apicale, the lateral portion of the intermediate nidopallium, and the medial nidopallium. There were no significant differences among the video-playback stimuli. The results suggest that the level of ZENK expression in these “association” regions was influenced not only by the visual presence of a potential mate, but by the presence of non-visual signals, the quality of the image, and the real-time interaction with the stimulus.
Was this content written or created while at USF?
Yes
Citation / Publisher Attribution
Social Neuroscience, v. 4, issue 1, p. 28-39
Scholar Commons Citation
Patton, Tadd B.; Husband, Scott; and Shimizu, Toru, "Female Stimuli Trigger Gene Expression in Male Pigeons" (2009). Psychology Faculty Publications. 405.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/psy_facpub/405
