title: Co-induction of activity-dependent genes in songbirds.
abstract: Song behavior in songbirds induces the expression of activity-dependent genes in brain areas involved in perceptual processing, production and learning of song. This genomic response is thought to represent a link between neuronal activation and long-term changes in song-processing circuits of the songbird brain. Here we demonstrate that Arc, an activity-regulated gene whose product has dendritic localization and is associated with synaptic plasticity, is rapidly induced by song in the brain of zebra finches. We show that, in the context of song auditory stimulation, Arc expression is induced in several telencephalic auditory areas, most prominently the caudomedial nidopallium and mesopallium, whereas in the context of singing, Arc is also induced in song control areas, namely nucleus HVC, used as a proper name, the robust nucleus of the arcopallium and the interface nucleus of the nidopallium. We also show that song-induced Arc expression co-localizes at the cellular level with those of the transcriptional regulators zenk and c-fos, and that the song induction of these three genes is dependent on activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway. These findings provide evidence for an involvement of Arc in the brain's response to birdsong. They also demonstrate that genes representing distinct genomic and cellular regulatory programs, namely early effectors and transcription factors, are co-activated in the same neuronal cells by a naturally learned stimulus.
authors.affiliation: Neurological Sciences Institute, Oregon Health and Science University - West Campus, 505 NW 185th Avenue, Beaverton, OR 97006, USA.
authors.forename: Tarciso A F
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Velho
authors.forename: Raphael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pinaud
authors.forename: Paulo V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.forename: Claudio V
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Mello
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D000818:Animals; D001306:Auditory Pathways / Q000502:physiology*; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D015152:Blotting, Northern / Q000379:methods; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular / Q000379:methods; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D003720:Densitometry / Q000379:methods; D046369:Finches; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D017403:In Situ Hybridization / Q000379:methods; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D013997:Time Factors; D014828:Vocalization, Animal / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C092069:activity regulated cytoskeletal-associated protein; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases