title: Song behavior, NGF level and NPY distribution in the brain of adult male zebra finches.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of nerve growth factor (NGF) and neuropeptide Y (NPY) in the higher vocal center (HVC) on singing behavior of adult male zebra finches. The results of our studies show: (a) that NGF is present in the brain of these birds and it is higher in the HVC than in the other neostriatal tissues; (b) that exogenous administration of NGF or NGF-antibody had no discernible effect on singing behavior; and (c) that NGF enhances the NPY immunoreactivity in neurons and fibers localized in HVC and other areas of the neostriatum and hippocampus whereas anti-NGF decreased NPY stained cells in the hippocampus. These studies indicate that NGF is produced in the brain of zebra finch and that it plays a role in the regulation of NPY.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neurobiology CNR, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fiore
authors.forename: N S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Clayton
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pistillo
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Angelucci
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Alleva
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Aloe
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007858:Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D017072:Neostriatum / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000378:metabolism; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D020308:Songbirds / Q000502:physiology*; D014828:Vocalization, Animal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D009478:Neuropeptide Y