title: Aromatase inhibition rapidly affects in a reversible manner distinct features of birdsong.
abstract: Recent evidence has implicated steroid hormones, specifically estrogens, in the rapid modulation of cognitive processes. Songbirds have been a useful model system in the study of complex cognitive processes including birdsong, a naturally learned vocal behavior regulated by a discrete steroid-sensitive telencephalic circuitry. Singing behavior is known to be regulated by long-term actions of estrogens but rapid steroid modulation of this behavior has never been examined. We investigated if acute actions of estrogens regulate birdsong in canaries (Serinus canaria). In the morning, male canaries sing within minutes after light onset. Birds were injected with fadrozole, a potent aromatase inhibitor, or vehicle within 2-5 minutes after lights on to implement a within-subjects experimental design. This single injection of fadrozole reduced the motivation to sing as well as song acoustic stereotypy, a measure of consistency over song renditions, on the same day. By the next day, however, all song measures that were affected had returned to baseline. This study indicates that estrogens also act in a rapid fashion to regulate two distinct features of song, a learned vocal behavior.
authors: Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA.
authors: Beau A
authors: BA
authors: Alward
authors: GIGA Neuroscience, University of Liege, Avenue Hippocrate, 15, 4000 Liege, Belgium, USA.
authors: Catherine
authors: C
authors: de Bournonville
authors: Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA.
authors: Trevor T
authors: TT
authors: Chan
authors: GIGA Neuroscience, University of Liege, Avenue Hippocrate, 15, 4000 Liege, Belgium, USA.
authors: Jacques
authors: J
authors: Balthazart
authors: GIGA Neuroscience, University of Liege, Avenue Hippocrate, 15, 4000 Liege, Belgium, USA.
authors: Charlotte A
authors: CA
authors: Cornil
authors: Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA.
authors: Gregory F
authors: GF
authors: Ball
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001141:Aromatase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D002171:Canaries / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D007858:Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D063346:Singing / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D020308:Songbirds / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism; D014828:Vocalization, Animal / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors; D013739:Testosterone; D001141:Aromatase