Table 2.
A summary of main findings from studies of nonapeptide systems in territorial (T), moderately gregarious (MG), and highly gregarious (HG) species of estrildid finches.
| Variable or manipulation | Result |
|---|---|
| Fos response of VT-ir neurons in the BSTm1 | To same-sex conspecifics: T < MG < HG |
| Socially negative stimuli decrease VT–Fos colocalization or have no effect | |
| Socially positive stimuli increase VT–Fos colocalization | |
| Constitutive VT–Fos colocalization in the BSTm (early AM baseline)1 | T < MG = HG |
| VT-ir cell number in the BSTm1 | T = MG < HG |
| Fos response of VT-ir neurons in the PVN to same-sex conspecific stimuli2 | T = MG = HG |
| 125I–V1a antagonist binding in the LS3 | T < MG = HG |
| VT infusions into the LS for tests of aggression4 | Inhibit territorial (resident–intruder) aggression in male violet-eared waxbills |
| Facilitate aggression in the context of mate competition in male zebra finches | |
| V1a antagonist infusions into the LS (male zebra finches)5 | Potently decrease gregariousness (% of total contact time spent with the larger of two groups) with no effects on total contact time |
| Potently increase anxiety-like behavior | |
| Reduce mate competition aggression | |
| Knockdown of VT production in the BSTm by antisense oligonucleotides (male zebra finches)6 | Potently decreases gregariousness |
| Increases anxiety-like behavior | |
| Modestly increases social contact time | |
| 125I–OT antagonist binding in the LS7 | Dorsal (pallial): T < MG = HG |
| Ventral (subpallial): T = MG < HG (P = 0.06) | |
| Dorsal–ventral ratio: T < MG = HG | |
| OT antagonist administrations (peripheral, intraventricular, and intraseptal; zebra finches)7 | Decrease preferences for the larger of two groups with no effect on total contact time |
| Decrease preferences for familiar versus novel groups | |
| Some effects are female-specific |