Testosterone mediates seasonal growth of the song control nuclei in a tropical bird

Abstract

In mid- to high-latitude songbirds seasonal reproduction is stimulated by increasing daylength accompanied by elevated plasma sex steroid levels, increased singing, and growth of the song control nuclei (SCN). Plasticity of the SCN and song behavior are primarily mediated by testosterone (T) and its metabolites in most species studied thus far. However, the majority of bird species are tropical and have less pronounced seasonal reproductive cycles. We have previously documented that equatorial rufous-collared sparrows (Zonotrichia capensis) exhibit seasonal neuroplasticity in the SCN. Manipulating T in these birds, however, did not alter singing behavior. In the current study we investigated whether T mediates plasticity of the SCN in a similar manner to temperate songbirds. In the first experiment we treated captive male birds with T or blank implants during the non-breeding season. In a second experiment we treated captive males with either blank implants, T-filled implants, T with Flutamide (FLU; an androgen receptor antagonist) or T with FLU and 1,4,6-androstatriene-3,17-dione (ATD; an estrogen synthesis inhibitor) during the breeding season. In both experiments, the volumes of brain areas HVC, Area X, and RA were measured along with singing behavior. In summary, T stimulated growth of HVC and RA and the combined effect of FLU and ATD reversed this effect in HVC. Area X was not affected by testosterone treatment in either experiment. Neither T-treated birds nor controls sang in captivity during either experiment. Together these data indicate that T mediates seasonal changes in the HVC and RA of both tropical and higher latitude bird species even if the environmental signals differ. However, unlike most higher latitude songbirds, we found no evidence that motivation to sing or growth of Area X are stimulated by T under captive conditions.

Introduction

The seasonal growth and regression of the avian song control nuclei (SCN) is one of the best studied examples of adult neuroplasticity [Tramontin and Brenowitz, 2000]. The natural seasonal changes in both the size and structure of specific avian brain nuclei are the most pronounced among the vertebrates studied thus far [Brenowitz et al., 2004; Fuchs and Flügge, 2014]. The song control system is made-up of a series of interconnected forebrain nuclei that control learning and the expression of singing behavior. Among the best understood of these nuclei is the sensorimotor nucleus HVC, which sends afferent projections to both the premotor robust nucleus of the acropallium (RA) and to the basal ganglia homologue Area X. In most species, the seasonal changes in the volume of these nuclei parallel changes in reproductive system activity and singing behavior [Brenowitz et al., 2004] suggesting a functional relationship between song system neuroplasticity and the reproductive system.

In many mid- to high-latitude breeding animals, the annual change in photoperiod regulates reproductive system activity [Dawson, 2003; Bradshaw and Holzapfel, 2007]. In birds, as day length increases in the spring, the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis becomes active resulting in increased sex steroid release from the gonads [Dawson, 2008]. In males, elevated testosterone (T) modulates singing behavior, in part, by acting on the SCN. T can act through either androgen receptors in HVC or estrogen receptors, after local conversion to estrogen (E) by the enzyme aromatase [Gahr, 2001; Brenowitz et al., 2004]. Androgen receptors are also present in RA and Area X of many species [Gahr and Metzdorf, 1997; Bernard et al., 1999; Kim et al., 2004; Wada et al., 2013] but the effect of T on their plasticity is indirectly mediated through HVC [Brenowitz et al., 2004; Meitzen et al., 2007]. When stimulated by T, HVC rapidly grows due largely to an increase in cell number, achieving maximal size within a week. RA and Area X growth is due to increases in neuron size and density, but not cell numbers, and growth lags behind HVC [Tramontin et al., 2000; Thompson and Brenowitz, 2005]. There is some evidence for non-steroidal mediation of growth of the SCN [Bentley et al., 1999; Cassone et al., 2008] but the steroidal pathway is generally accepted as the primary mechanism mediating seasonal growth of the nuclei [Brenowitz, 2008].

The rufous-collared sparrow (Zonotrichia capensis) is a congener of the white-crowned sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys), which is an important model in the study of song system plasticity [Smith et al., 1997; Soma et al., 1999a; Robertson et al., 2014]. Song is an essential component of both territorial defense [Moore et al., 2004a; Addis et al., 2010] and courtship [Danner et al., 2011] in rufous-collared sparrows, and this species was the first tropical vertebrate shown to exhibit seasonal neuroplasticity [Moore et al., 2004c]. The growth of the rufous-collared sparrow SCN occurs during the early breeding seasons, concurrent with increased singing behavior, and is similar to that described in higher latitude congeners that have been more extensively studied (e.g. Smith et al. 1997; Soma et al. 1999a; Robertson et al. 2014).

In equatorial populations of rufous-collared sparrows, reproduction correlates with the end of the rainy season [Moore and Wingfield, 2002; Moore et al., 2005] and is not associated with changes in day length [Moore et al., 2004c, 2006]. For example, in two equatorial populations located within 25km of each other, individuals breed seasonally within each population, but the breeding seasons differ by three months between the populations [Moore et al., 2005]. At both sites, HVC, RA, and Area X were larger in breeding versus non-breeding males despite the timing of breeding differing. The asynchronous changes between the two populations, and the fact that these birds only experience a ~3 minute annual shift in photoperiod (U.S. Naval Observatory), s trongly suggests that photoperiod is not a significant regulator of the reproductive system or SCN size in these equatorial animals.

Similar to northern latitude species, at the beginning of the breeding season, the HPG axis of rufous-collared sparrows increases expression of gonadotropin-releasing hormone I (GnRH-I) release, the gonads develop, and plasma sex steroid levels are elevated to concentrations that are comparable with northern congeners [Moore et al., 2002, 2004b, 2006; Stevenson et al., 2012]. These changes accompany increased singing behavior and the growth of the SCN of males, but not females [Stevenson et al., 2012]. This correlation between reproductive system activity, singing, and song system growth suggests a causal relationship between testosterone and neuroplasticity similar to higher latitude congeners.

However, many tropical birds do not exhibit the same behavioral and physiological responses to elevated plasma testosterone as seen in northern latitude species [Stutchbury and Morton, 2001; Hau et al., 2008]. Male rufous-collared sparrows are more aggressive and only sing during the breeding season, but unlike many other birds, they do not increase T levels in conjunction with the higher aggressive behaviors caused by simulated territorial intrusions [Moore et al., 2004b; Wingfield et al., 2007; Goymann, 2009; Addis et al., 2010]. Supplementation with T during prebreeding does not increase aggressive behaviors, including singing [Moore et al., 2004b], and blocking testosterone with the androgen receptor antagonist flutamide (FLU) and the aromatase enzyme inhibitor 1-4-6-androstatrien-3,17-dione (ATD) does not reduce aggressive behaviors [Moore et al., 2004a] suggesting that singing motivation associated with aggression is not altered by elevated testosterone. The uncertain role of T in singing behavior also raises questions concerning what role T plays in the regulation of SCN growth.

The equatorial rufous-collared sparrow system provides a unique opportunity to investigate if different environmental cues are translated into similar behaviors through conserved neuroendocrine pathways. More specifically, does T mediate changes in the SCN of these birds, as it does in higher latitude congeners, despite no known effect of T on singing behavior in free-living males? In two complementary experiments, we manipulated androgen action in rufous-collared sparrows living on the equator in Ecuador. In the first experiment, we predicted that implanting non-breeding sparrows with T would stimulate growth of the song nuclei. In the second experiment we predicted that blocking androgen action in captive T treated birds would prevent growth of the nuclei. We found that, as predicted, testosterone activity is necessary for the growth of at least two out of the three nuclei that were measured, but T does not appear to facilitate increased singing behavior in captive males.

Materials and Methods

Subjects

For Experiment 1, adult male sparrows were passively caught in mist nets at dawn in and around Papallacta, Napo Province, Ecuador (0°22.3'S, 78°8.2'W, 3,300 m elevation; May 25-June 5, 2007; N= 16). For Experiment 2, adult males were caught in and around Pintag, Pichincha Province (0°22.7'S, 78°22.6W, 2,900 m elevation; September 13–23, 2008; N=24). Captures at both sites were conducted during their respective non-breeding periods. While these two populations are only 25 km apart, breeding commonly occurs between September and December in Papallacta and late November to early March in Pintag, reflecting geographic differences in rain fall [Moore et al., 2005]. This difference in the timing of reproduction allowed for greater flexibility in coordinating hormone treatments during either the non-breeding or breeding periods of the birds’ source populations. To assess reproductive status at the time of capture, molt was scored, cloacal protuberance length (CP; an androgen-dependent secondary sexual characteristic) was measured, and birds were laparatomized (see below) so testis development could be directly measured. At both sites, birds were not molting, had undeveloped CPs (<4mm) and had regressed testes (<2 mm diameter) when captured, indicating they were not in breeding condition and were unlikely to have bred in the previous month. All experiments and procedures were approved by the Virginia Tech Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee.

Housing conditions

Birds in both experiments were transported to Quito, Pichincha Province, Ecuador (0°8.7'S, 78°27.8'W, 2,900 m elevation) on the day of capture and were individually housed in wire cages (33 × 51 × 51 cm) in an outdoor aviary (2.5 × 2.5 × 3 m) with open sides and a translucent roof. The aviary was in a private walled in space with restricted access and activity in the space was limited to the experiment being conducted. Treatment and control birds were evenly distributed throughout the aviary. Birds were provided ad libitum water and food (Trill Canary Mix, Mars, Inc.) throughout both experiments.

Implants

Experiment 1

To investigate the effect of T on the growth of song nuclei, birds were either implanted with T (T-treated; N=8) or received empty implants (Controls; N=8) for 21 days. After capture in Papallacta, birds were acclimated to the housing facility for 14 to 25 days (depending on capture date) prior to implantation (implantation occurred on experiment Day 0). Three days prior to implantation (Day -3), body mass (Pesola spring scale to nearest 0.1 g), wing chord length (wing rule to nearest mm), CP length, and fat score (scale 0–3 based on visual inspection of the furcular and abdominal regions), were measured in all birds and a ~250 µl blood sample was collected (see below). Also on Day -3, birds were separated into T-treated or Control groups balanced by body size and condition. On Day 0, T-treated birds received two 10mm T-filled subcutaneous silastic implants (1.47mm inner diameter; Dow Corning) along the left flank and Control birds received two empty (control) silastic implants of the same size (see below for surgical details). Similar sized implants were previously used in this species to elevate plasma T to high, physiologically relevant, breeding levels [Moore et al., 2004b]. On Day 21 post-implantation, body mass, CP length, and fat score were measured and a second blood sample was collected and stored. Birds were given a terminal intramuscular injection of 7.5 mg sodium pentobarbital and transcardially perfused with 0.9% heparinized saline (150 IU/10 ml) followed by 10% neutral buffered formalin. Brains and testes were removed within five minutes of perfusion. Brains were post-fixed in 10% formalin, and were stored under refrigeration until delivery to the University of Washington (Seattle, WA). Post-perfusion, the gonads were removed and testis diameter and lengths were measured (to 0.01mm using digital calipers) and volume was calculated using the formula for ellipsoid cylinders (4/3π*(0.5 width)²*(0.5 length)). Experiment 1 (capture to tissue collection) occurred during the non-breeding period in the subjects’ source population (Papallacta).

Experiment 2

To determine whether T induced growth of the song nuclei occurred through androgen and/or estrogen receptors, birds were treated with androgen receptor antagonist flutamide (FLU), and/or ATD, which inhibits the aromatase enzyme necessary for conversion of androgens to estrogens. After capture in Pintag, birds were acclimated to the housing facility for 65–75 days prior to implantation. Three days prior to implantation (Day -3) a blood sample was collected for all birds and wing chord length, body mass, and fat scores were used to separate birds into four groups (n=6 per group: T treated (T-treated), T with FLU (T+FLU), T with FLU and ATD (T+FLU+ATD), and Controls. Due to limited facilities and birds, we did not include a T with ATD group. On Day 0, T-treated birds received two 10 mm T-filled and four empty silastic implants (one T-filled and two blanks along each flank). T+FLU birds received two 10 mm T-filled, two 10 mm FLU-filled, and two empty silastic implants (one of each type along each flank). T+FLU+ATD received two 10 mm T-filled, two 10 mm FLU-filled, and two 10 mm ATD-filled silastic implants (one of each type along each flank). Controls received six empty 10 mm silastic implants (three along each flank). Surgical sites were checked on Days 2, 7, and 14. On Day 27, body mass, CP length, and fat score were measured, a second blood sample was collect, the birds were perfused, and their brains were stored as previously described. The testes were measured as above and were also weighed using a digital scale. Three birds were removed from the study, one T+FLU and two T+FLU+ATD, due to a lack of healing at the site of implantation and their repeated loss of implants. The capture of subjects for Experiment 2 and acclimation to the facilities occurred during the non-breeding season in the source population (Pintag) but hormone treatment occurred during the early breeding season.

Behavioral observations

During both experiments individual behavior was monitored on three separate days (Exp 1: days 4, 11, 18; Exp 2: days 6, 16, 25) starting within 30 minutes of dawn. Observations were conducted from behind a blind positioned five meters either east or west of the aviary. Each of the two positions allowed for half of the birds in the aviary to be observed at one time (equal numbers of each treatment). When observations on one side were completed, observations on the other side were started 15 minutes after moving between the blinds to allow the birds to recover from the disturbance. Individuals on each side of the aviary were observed for singing rate for 24 minutes (Experiment 1) or 36 minutes (Experiment 2) totaling 48 and 132 minutes of observation time per day. Any singing was recorded and if it occurred on the side being observed, the individual singing could be noted. To quantify activity rate, two birds in adjacent cages were observed at the same time for two 3 minute sessions each day. Activity level was quantified by the number times the bird hopped between one of three perches. Further, the aviary was located next to the researcher housing and work space, allowing for any singing that came from the aviary to be noted during the day.

Surgical techniques

Prior to laparotomies or implantation, birds were anesthetized with isofluorane inhalation, the surgical area was cleaned with 70% ethanol, and 5% lidocaine ointment was applied topically to the area of incision. For laparotomies, a 2–3mm incision was made between the last pair of ribs and the diameter of the left testis was measured to the nearest 0.5 mm using forceps and a ruler. For implantations, a 2–3-mm incision was made in the skin above the last pair of ribs and the implants were inserted between the skin and the muscle. The incisions were sealed with surgical glue.

Blood sampling and testosterone RIA

Blood samples were collected from the alar wing vein into heparinized capillary tubes. Samples were stored on ice until later the same day when they were centrifuged, the plasma was separated, and the samples were frozen until they were assayed. For the assay, steroids were extracted from plasma using distilled dichloromethane and were purified and separated by chromatography using diatomaceous earth (Celite, Sigma). Concentrations of T were measured in duplicate by standard radioimmunoassay techniques [Moore et al., 2002] and T concentrations were corrected for individual extraction efficiency. The assay detection limit was ~0.08 ng/ml and intra-assay variations of 7% and 8% (two assays) and interassay variations of 8%.

Song Control Nuclei volume analysis

After extraction, the brains were cryoprotected in 30% sucrose until they sank. They were then frozen on dry ice and stored in a −80°C freezer. Brains were sectioned by microtome at 40 µm in the coronal plane and every third section was Nissl stained. Song nuclei volumes were measured and calculated as described previously [Smith et al., 1995; Brenowitz et al., 1998; Tramontin et al., 1998]. Briefly, a magnified (46×) image of each stained section was projected onto paper, and the profiles of the telencephalic song nuclei HVC, RA, and X were traced. Traces were scanned into a computer, and the area was calculated using NIH Image software. The volume of each nucleus was calculated using the formula for a cone frustum over each measured profile area. To control for individual differences in overall brain volume, for each bird the song nucleus volumes were divided by the volume of the entire telencephalon [Tramontin et al., 2000]. Telencephalon volumes were calculated for one side of the brain by projecting a magnified (14×) image of every sixth mounted section through the entire telencephalon. The volume for the one side of the telencephalon was calculated similar to the song nuclei calculations, and was then doubled to estimate the total volume of the telencephalon. In the Controls for Experiment 1, one individual’s HVC volume and another individual’s RA volume could not be calculated due to tissue damage and were excluded from analysis.

Statistical analysis

Data from each of the two experiments were analyzed separately, but in a similar manner. For body fat, wing chord, testis volume, testis weight, relative song nucleus volumes (HVC, RA, Area X), and telencephalon volume, we used one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). To compare pre-treatment and post-treatment samples between treatments groups for T, body mass, and cloacal protuberance height, we used two-way repeated measures ANOVA (RM ANOVA). The Tukey-Kramer HSD test was used for post-hoc pairwise comparisons when appropriate. Prior to analysis, T, CP, gonad volume, HVC and Area X data were log transformed to meet assumptions of normality (Shapiro-Wilk W Test) and homoscedasticity (Levene Test). All statistical analysis was conducted in JMP 10.0 (SAS Institute Inc.).

Results

Experiment 1

Prior to implantation, treatment groups contained animals of similar size (wing chord: F_1,14=1.61 p=0.225) and condition (fat score: F_1,14=0.15 p=0.705). Body mass was also similar between groups and was unaffected by treatment during the experiments (Table 1). Plasma T levels of captive animals did not differ between groups prior to implantation and were similar to non-breeding baseline levels in free-living male Z. capensis (Table 2; Moore et al., 2004b). Plasma T levels significantly increased in response to receiving T implants, (Tables 1 and 2). CPs grew significantly after T implantation and were larger than Control CPs. Testis volume was greater in birds implanted with T compared to Controls (Table 2). Activity levels were unaffected by treatment but the activity level of all animals increased during the experiment (Tables 1 and 3). No birds were heard singing in captivity during behavioral observations or at any other time during the experimental period. Telencephalon volume did not differ between treatment groups (F_1,14=0.13, p=0.725). T-treated animals had larger relative HVC and RA volumes compared to Controls (Fig 1A and B). Area X did not differ between groups (Fig 1C).

Table 1.

Statistical comparisons of physiological and behavioral characteristics of male Z. capensis in Experiments 1 and 2.

	Experiment 1			Experiment 2
	F	df	p	F	df	p
T
Treat	169.7	1, 14	<0.001	52.6	3, 17	<0.001
Day	118.4	1, 14	<0.001	772.5	1, 17	<0.001
Treat x day	143.8	1, 14	<0.001	44.1	3, 17	<0.001
CP
Treat	7.12	1, 14	0.018	1.45	3, 17	0.263
Day	17.6	1, 14	<0.001	21.5	1, 17	<0.001
Treat x day	12.2	1, 14	0.004	5.41	3, 17	0.009
Body mass
Treat	0.08	1, 14	0.307	2.27	3, 17	0.117
Day	0.47	1, 14	0.503	5.96	1, 17	0.026
Treat x day	1.80	1, 14	0.201	0.43	3, 17	0.737
Activity
Treat	0.47	2, 14	0.502	1.34	3, 17	0.294
Day	4.06	2, 13	0.043	0.01	2, 16	0.985
Treat x day	0.12	2, 13	0.887	1.43	3, 17	0.270

Treatments (Treat) Exp 1: Control, T-treated; Exp 2: Control, T-treated, T+Flu, T+Flu+ATD

Sampling day (Day): Pre-treatment vs. final day (T, CP, and body mass); Observation days 1–3 (Activity)

Two-way repeated measures ANOVAs were used to compare the effect of treatment, sampling day and the interaction between them. Significant values are shown in bold (p<0.05).

Table 2.

Testosterone concentrations and testis development in Experiments (Exp) 1 and 2.

Treatment	Plasma testosterone (ng/ml)		Testis vol. (mm3)	Testis Mass (g)
	Pre	Post
Exp 1
Control	0.23 ± 0.04 (a)	0.19 ± 0.03 (a)	3.4 ± 1.2 (a)
T-treated	0.24 ± 0.04 (a)	9.42 ± 0.74 (b)	78.1 ± 18.0 (b)
Exp 2
Control	0.07 ± 0.02 (a)	0.23 ± 0.03 (b)	4.3 ± 1.5 (a)	0.06 ± 0.02 (a)
T-treated	0.10 ± 0.03 (a)	8.56 ± 0.90 (c)	78.4 ± 11.0 (b)	0.22 ± 0.02 (b)
T+Flu	0.08 ± 0.03 (a)	10.61 ± 0.29 (c)	58.6 ± 9.9 (b)	0.14 ± 0.02 (ab)
T+Flu+ATD	0.05 ± 0.01 (a)	12.61 ± 0.80 (c)	29.8 ± 16.4 (b)	0.09 ± 0.05 (a)

Plasma testosterone levels were measured prior to implantation (Pre) and on the last day of treatment (Post). Testis volume (Exp 1 and 2) and testis mass (Exp 2) were measured on the final day of treatment. Values are mean ± standard error. Within each experiment and data type, values not sharing a letter are significantly different (Tukey-Kramer; p<0.05).

Table 3.

Captive Z. capensis activity level during three observations (Obs) per experiment.

Treatment	Activity (hops/min)
	Obs 1	Obs 2	Obs 3
Exp 1
Control	14.50 ± 1.43	16.00 ± 2.44	19.2 ± 2.5
T-treated	16.60 ± 1.83	16.60 ± 1.45	21.0 ± 2.4
Exp 2
Control	26.20 ± 3.75	27.90 ± 2.69	23.2 ± 3.5
T-treated	23.80 ± 3.46	24.60 ± 3.00	28.0 ± 1.4
T+Flu	21.40 ± 4.32	23.20 ± 5.37	22.8 ± 4.4
T+Flu+ATD	19.70 ± 4.06	15.20 ± 6.26	17.9 ± 4.2

There were no significant differences between treatments but activity significantly increased with time in Experiment 1 (Table 1).

Figure 1.

Summary of captive Z. capensis relative song control nuclei size (% telencephalon of A, HVC; B, RA; C, Area X) in Experiments 1 and 2. Testosterone treated (T-treated) birds had larger HVC and RA but not Area X compared to non-treated (Control) birds in both experiments. In Experiment 2, the combined effect of androgen receptor antagonist flutamide (Flu) and aromatase inhibitor 1,4,6-Androstatrien-3,17-dione (ATD) blocked the effect of T on HVC (T+Flu+ATD; T+Blocker combined T+Flu+ATD and T+Flu groups in analysis), but not on RA. Dashed lines are the mean relative SCN volumes of non-breeding (lower line) and breeding (upper line) free-living Z. capensis from the same populations as those in the study (Moore et al., 2004). One-way ANOVAs were used to investigate treatment effects followed with Tukey-Kramer pairwise comparisons when appropriate (p<0.05). Bars sharing the same letter are not significantly different. Sample sizes are listed in the base of each bar.

Experiment 2

Prior to implantation, treatment groups contained animals of similar size (wing chord: F_3,17=0.79 p=0.518) and condition (fat score: F_3,17=0.42 p=0.740). Body mass was also similar between groups and was unaffected by treatment during the experiments (Table 1). Plasma T levels of captive animals did not differ between groups prior to implantation and were similar to nonbreeding baseline levels in free-living male Z. capensis (Table 2; Moore et al., 2004b). Plasma T levels significantly increased in all birds that received T implants, regardless of concurrent ATD or FLU treatment (Tables 1 and 2). The CPs in the T+FLU group were similar to the CPs of the T-treated group and were significantly larger than Controls, but CPs of T+FLU+ATD animals were not different from any other groups (Table 1; Tukey-Kramer tests, p<0.05; data not shown). Testis volume was greater in all treatment groups implanted with T compared to Controls, independent of concurrent treatment with FLU or ATD (Table 2). Testis mass was significantly greater in T-treated animals compared to Controls and to T+FLU+ATD animals while testis mass of T+FLU animals were not different from any other groups (Tables 1 and 2). Activity levels were unaffected by t reatment (Tables 1 and 3). No birds were heard singing in captivity during behavioral observations or at any other time during the experiments. Because Experiment 2 coincided with breeding in the local population in Quito, free-living rufous-collared sparrows could be heard singing in the distance (1–3/day; >200m away). Telencephalon volume did not differ between treatment groups (F_3,17=0.53, p=0.670). T-treated animals had larger relative HVC volumes compared to Controls, but treatment with FLU +ATD eliminated the effect of T on HVC while T+FLU treatment did not differ from any of the groups (Fig 1A). There was no effect of treatment on either RA (Fig 1B) or Area X (Fig 1C) when the four treatment groups were analyzed. However, due to the limited sample size of both blocking treatments and the absence of any difference between them (Comparing blocking treatments: HVC F_1,7=3.54, p=0.102; RA F_1,7=0.027, p=0.873; Area X F_1,7=0.005, p=0.944), the T+FLU and T+FLU+ATD groups were combined (T+Blocker) to increase the sample size and the data were reanalyzed. In this new analysis, results from HVC were similar to the original analysis (Fig 1A) but there was a significant effect of treatment on RA (Fig 1B). Post hoc analysis revealed a similar effect of T on RA growth as in Experiment 1 but the T+Blocker animals were still not different from either Controls or T-treated animals. Also, similar to Experiment 1, Area X did not differ between any groups (Fig 1C).

Discussion

Here we have demonstrated that, similar to other song birds from higher latitudes, T stimulates growth of rufous-collared sparrow HVC and RA. However, unlike many other song birds, T did not stimulate Area X growth. The growth of HVC and RA in the captive experiments were similar i n magnitude to the growth between non-breeding and breeding freeliving rufous-collared sparrows (Fig 1; Moore et al., 2004c). These changes, however, occur in association with seasonal rainfall patterns rather than changes in day length. Thus, we have demonstrated that, similar to other songbirds, T stimulates growth of HVC and RA in equatorial rufous-collared sparrows.

We know of only one other free-living species that uses non-photoperiodic cues to time SCN development, the subtropical rufous-winged sparrow (Peucaea carpalis, formerly in the genus Aimophila ; DaCosta et al., 2009; Chesser et al., 2010). In this species, gonadal development is stimulated by increasing photoperiod in the spring, however, luteinizing hormone and testosterone remain low until GnRH-I release increases during the onset of temporally variable, late summer monsoon rains [Small et al., 2007, 2008a, 2008b]. Concurrent with increasing plasma T, HVC and RA grow, and singing increases [Strand et al., 2007] despite declining day length. Together with the results from rufous-collared sparrows, the physiological regulation of song system neuroplasticity appears to be highly conserved in passerines regardless of the environmental cues that drive seasonal reproduction.

At the conclusion of both experiments, T levels in implanted birds were in the high physiological range for breeding rufous-collared sparrows. Although breeding T levels are often reported to be 2–4ng/ml for this species [Moore et al., 2004c; Addis et al., 2010; González-Gómez et al., 2013], these values are population averages that can obscure individual high values [Williams, 2008; Hau et al., 2008]. Consistent with this, Moore et al. [2004b] found that the average T concentration for 35 breeding male rufous-collared sparrows was 4 ng/ml. However, five of the 35 birds had T values between 10 and 14 ng/ml, indicating the plasma T levels of implanted birds were within the natural range for this species. It is possible the silastic implants provided a higher dos e of T during the early stages of the experiments [Fusani, 2008a; Quispe et al., 2015]. However, a prior study on free-living rufous-collared sparrows, that used similar T implants (produced in the same lab), documented comparable plasma T concentrations (10.5 ± 1.5 ng/ml) in birds sampled between 2 and 14 days post-implantation [Moore et al., 2004b] suggesting that T levels were stable over the course of the experiments.

Results from Experiment 2 indicate that T acts on HVC via conversion to estrogen, but it is unclear if it also acts directly through androgen receptors. In HVC, only the combined FLU+ATD treatment completely counteracted the effect of T while FLU treatment alone was not significantly different from any other group. Because of limited housing space, there was no ATD (without FLU) blocking group. Thus we cannot exclude the possibility that the results from the FLU+ATD treatment were exclusively due to ATD blocking the estrogenic pathway, with no contribution from FLU’s effect on androgen receptors.

RA grew in response to T treatment in both experiments, but unlike HVC and the testes, neither FLU nor FLU+ATD treatment eliminated the effect of T. In other species, RA and Area X growth are preceded by HVC growth [Tramontin and Brenowitz, 2000] and T does not appear to directly influence RA or Area X growth. Instead, T and its metabolites act through HVC, which projects to RA and Area X [Meitzen et al., 2007]. However, RA does contain androgen receptors and their activation appears to be necessary for HVC to stimulate growth of RA. In white-crowned sparrows, exposing RA neurons to FLU in one hemisphere of the brain prevented an increase in soma size and spontaneous activity compared to the other hemisphere [Meitzen et al., 2007]. If androgen receptor activation in RA is also permissive for RA growth in rufous-collared sparrows, it is unclear why FLU treatment was not more effective at inhibiting RA growth.

T treatment also stimulated testes growth, a common occurrence in birds when T levels are high for an extended period of time [Hamner, 1968; Turek et al., 1976, 1980; Brown and Follett, 1977; Desjardins and Turek, 1977; Kumar and Kumar, 1990; Deviche et al., 2006]. The effect of T on testes growth is likely due to a direct stimulatory effect via gonadal androgen receptors and estrogen receptors [Deviche et al., 2006, 2010] stimulating growth of the sertoli cells. The effect of FLU, and FLU+ATD treatments on gonadal weight mirrored their effects on HVC volume with FLU alone only having an “intermediate” effect on testis weight compared to FLU+ATD. Along with an absent or reduced effect of FLU treatment on HVC and RA growth, this lack of a significant effect of FLU treatment suggests that androgen receptors either play a less important role in regulating T’s influence in this tropical species or that FLU treatment was unable to completely block T’s effects via androgen receptor binding.

In mammals, FLU treatment is more effective in castrated animals than in intact animals [Vagell and McGinnis, 1998]. This reduced effectiveness in intact mammals is thought to result from FLU blocking negative feedback of T at the hypothalamus and pituitary gland and the subsequent increase in endogenous androgen production [Viguier-Martinez et al., 1985; Mahler et al., 1998; Ohsako et al., 2003], which also occurs in reptiles [Tokarz, 1987], and birds [Soma et al., 1999b; Canoine and Gwinner, 2002; Moore et al., 2004a; Mougeot et al., 2005]. As a consequence, the higher T levels can reduce FLU efficacy by outcompeting it for androgen receptor binding [Tokarz, 1987; Chandolia et al., 1991]. This indicates that the chronic high T levels of the birds in this study may have decreased FLU’s anti-androgenic effect and may account for the intermediate results in the T+FLU treatment.

Unexpectedly, we documented no treatment effect of T on Area X. Large individual variation, a small effect size, and relatively small sample sizes could have prevented changes in Area X from being detected. However, the volume of Area X in the captive birds was most consistent with entirely regressed pre-breeding rufous-collared sparrows, whereas HVC and RA volumes were consistent with those of breeding birds [Moore et al., 2004c], suggesting treatment simply had no effect on Area X.

After Area X growth was not detected in Experiment 1, three adjustments were made to the treatment protocol for Experiment 2 to reduce the influence of potentially confounding factors on Area X growth. First, bringing free-living animals into captivity can cause chronic stress, particularly during the first few weeks of captivity [Dickens et al., 2009; Cyr and Romero, 2009; Mason, 2010], and elevated corticosterone can inhibit growth of the SCN [Newman et al., 2010]. For Experiment 2, we held birds for over two months (3–4 times longer than Experiment 1) to better habituate them to captivity prior to treatment. Second, growth of Area X and RA in response to T treatment can lag behind growth of HVC and may take up to 20 days [Tramontin et al., 2000]. Although T treatment lasted for 21 days in Experiment 1, the time course of nuclei growth is not known for this species so treatment was extended to 27 days in Experiment 2. Finally, sensitivity of the SCN to sex steroids may fluctuate seasonally [Soma et al., 1999a; Fusani et al., 2000; Strand et al., 2008; Fraley et al., 2010; Wacker et al., 2010]. Experiment 1 was concluded approximately eight weeks prior to the initiation of reproduction in the bird’s source population (Papallacta). For Experiment 2, hormone treatment was timed to coincide with reproduction in the bird’s source population (Pintag). The timing of Experiment 2 also coincided with reproduction in the local, free-living rufous-collared sparrow population where the birds were housed (Quito), thus increasing the likelihood test animals were exposed to environmental cues associated with reproduction.

Despite the changes to t he protocol, the results from Experiments 1 and 2 were the same which suggests that Area X growth is either 1) regulated by factors independent of T, 2) regulated by factors in addition to T but which HVC and RA do not require, or 3) Area X growth is constrained by factors that do not constrain HVC and RA. It is possible that Area X requires more than 27 days of elevated T exposure to initiate growth. However, this would mean it lags more than a week behind RA which was developed by 21 days in Experiment 1. It is also possible that Area X growth was still suppressed by captive stress, while HVC and RA were not, but it is unclear why Area X would be more sensitive to chronic stress than HVC or RA.

Birds in both experiments did not sing. No instances of singing were recorded during behavioral observations, nor were birds heard singing during any other point in the study. The aviary containing the study animals was situated next to the researcher housing and workspace. Bird song from more distant, free living birds, including rufous-collared sparrows (Experiment 2 only), could clearly be heard inside the facilities, thus it is unlikely that any significant amount of singing by the study animals could have gone undetected.

Some studies suggest that feedback from singing behavior is required for complete SCN growth [Alvarez-Borda and Nottebohm, 2002; Ball et al., 2004; Sartor and Ball, 2005a, 2005b; Alward et al., 2013]. However, similar to white-crowned sparrows [Brenowitz et al., 2007], we found that HVC and RA of rufous-collared sparrows grew to full reproductive volumes in the absence of auditory feedback from song. This finding does not exclude the possibility that there is a link between the absence of singing behavior and the lack of Area X growth, although any such link is entirely speculative at this time.

Male rufous-collared sparrows only sing during the breeding season [Moore et al., 2004c] and song is important in both territorial defense [Moore et al., 2004a; Addis et al., 2010] and courtship [Danner et al., 2011]. Strict seasonal expression of behavior is often under strong hormonal regulation [Hau et al., 2008; Lynn, 2008], but to date the only known effect of T on male behavior in this species is to reduce parental care [Lynn et al., 2009]. The absence of singing in T treated males housed with other males is consistent with T manipulation having no effect on aggressive behaviors in free-living males [Moore et al., 2004a]. In other species, captive T treatment does stimulate singing in captive males housed alone or with other males [Tramontin et al., 1999; Dloniak and Deviche, 2001; Boseret et al., 2006; Strand et al., 2008; Meitzen et al., 2009], and T can stimulate singing in female songbirds which do not normally sing [Leonard, 1939; Kern and King, 1972; Hausberger et al., 2010; Lahaye et al., 2012; Madison et al., 2014]. At present, we have no evidence that T influence motivation to sing during male-male encounters, despite the birds having fully grown HVC and RA. The influence of T on courtship behaviors, including singing, has not been tested in this species, and T’s influence on courtship behaviors cannot be inferred from the lack of changes in the aggressive response [Wiley, 2003; Lynn, 2008]. Until further studies are conducted, we cannot draw a strong conclusion about T’s role in song complexity or in motivation to sing in different social contexts.

While the environmental signals responsible are not clear, it is evident from this study that changes in T mediate the seasonal changes in HVC and RA volume in this tropical species and full development of these nuclei can be achieved without auditory feedback. However, other unknown factors that act independent of, or in conjunction with, T are required to stimulate changes in Area X volume. Finally, these data supply further evidence that while T and its metabolites have many similar physiological effects on tropical animals to those seen in more temperate species, the behavioral effects of T may be less pronounced or absent.