Vocal control area-related expression of neuropilin-1, plexin-A4, and the ligand semaphorin-3A has implications for the evolution of the avian vocal system.
The avian vocal system is a good model for exploring the molecular basis of neural circuit evolution related to behavioral diversity. Previously, we conducted a comparative gene expression analysis among two different families of vocal learner, the Bengalese finch (Lonchura striata var. domestica), a songbird, and the budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus), a parrot; and a non-learner, the quail (Coturnix coturnix), to identify various axon guidance molecules such as cadherin and neuropilin-1 as vocal control area-related genes. Here, we continue with this study and examine the expression of neuropilin and related genes in these species in more detail. We found that neuropilin-1 and its coreceptor, plexin-A4, were expressed in several vocal control areas in both Bengalese finch and budgerigar brains. In addition, semaphorin-3A, the ligand of neuropilin-1, expression was not detected in vocal control areas in both species. Furthermore, there was some similar gene expression in the quail brain. These results suggest the possibility that a change in the expression of a combination of semaphorin/neuropilin/plexin was involved in the acquisition of vocal learning ability during evolution.
Matsunaga
Eiji
E
Laboratory for Biolinguistics, RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Hirosawa 2-1, Wako, 351-0198, Japan. Eiji.Matsunaga@brain.riken.jp
Okanoya
Kazuo
K
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008954:Models, Biological; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D039942:Neuropilin-1 / Q000235:genetics*; D010311:Parrots / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D040121:Semaphorin-3A / Q000235:genetics*; D020308:Songbirds / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D014828:Vocalization, Animal / Q000502:physiology*
D018076:DNA, Complementary; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D040121:Semaphorin-3A; D039942:Neuropilin-1