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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2014 Jul 29.
Published in final edited form as: Neuroscience. 2013 Jan 3;239:139–148. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2012.12.043

Figure 2. Schematic overview of gonadal hormone-associated angiogenesis and neuronal recruitment in the adult songbird HVC.

Figure 2

Testosterone-induced neuronal recruitment to the adult songbird vocal control center, HVC, requires the androgenic induction of VEGF, followed by VEGF-triggered MMP2 expression and activation, which further augments VEGF concentration by releasing matrix-bound VEGF and initiates angiogenesis. The expanded microvascular bed acts as a source of BDNF, which supports the immigration of new neurons derived from neuronal progenitors in the overlying ventricular zone. This figure is derived and modified from (Goldman and Chen, 2011). AR, androgen receptor; ER, estrogen receptor; Ncad, N-cadherin; Hu, Hu protein; IGF-1, insulin growth factor 1.