Glutamatergic circuits in the song system of Zebra Finch brain determined by gene expression of Vglut2 and Glutamate receptors

Authors

  • Mohammad Rabiul Karim Department of Anatomy and Histology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202
  • Munmun Pervin Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, Osaka Prefecture University, Osaka
  • Yasuro Atoji Laboratory of Veterinary Anatomy, Gifu University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3329/ralf.v1i1.22356

Keywords:

Glutamateric neuron, Brain, In situ hybridization, Songbird

Abstract

The songbird brain has a system of interconnected nuclei that are specialized for singing and song learning. Electrophysiological findings indicate a role for the glutamatergic neurons in the song system. Vesicular glutamate transporter 2 (vGluT2) is considered to be a specific biomarker of glutamatergic neurons in birds. Neurons receiving glutamatergic afferents express mRNA of ionotropic glutamate receptor subunits. This study examined expression of vGluT2 and glutamate receptor subunit mRNAs in nuclei of the song pathways of male zebra finch brain by in situ hybridization. VGluT2 mRNA was revealed high density of expression in the song nuclei, namely HVC, lateral magnocellular nucleus of the anterior nidopallium, and robust nucleus of the arcopallium. Area X did not show expression of vGluT2 mRNA. Nuclei in the descending motor pathway (dorsomedial nucleus of the intercollicular complex and retroambigual nucleus) were expressed vGluT2 mRNA. Target nuclei of vGluT2 mRNA-expressing nuclei showed hybridization signals for mRNAs of ionotropic glutamate receptor subunits. At least one of five subunit mRNAs (GluA1, GluA4, GluK1, GluN1, GluN2A) was expressed in song nuclei. The present findings support the existence of glutamatergic circuits in the song system in songbirds.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/ralf.v1i1.22356

Res. Agric., Livest. Fish.1(1): 61-70, Dec 2014

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Published

2015-02-22

How to Cite

Karim, M. R., Pervin, M., & Atoji, Y. (2015). Glutamatergic circuits in the song system of Zebra Finch brain determined by gene expression of Vglut2 and Glutamate receptors. Research in Agriculture Livestock and Fisheries, 1(1), 61–70. https://doi.org/10.3329/ralf.v1i1.22356

Issue

Vol. 1 No. 1 (2014)

Section

Original Articles

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