Anatomical and ontogenetic factors producing variation in HVc neuron number in zebra finches

Abstract

The volume of nucleus HVc of the avian song system varies greatly both among and within songbird species, and is positively correlated to song complexity in many species. Moreover, the number of neurons in HVc predicts the ability of individual zebra finches to imitate song accurately. To better understand this brain/behavior relationship, we used the retrograde tracer Fast Blue to assess how specific HVc neuronal subpopulations contribute to variation in overall HVc neuron number in adult male zebra finches. We also investigated whether sibling order predicts the number of HVc neurons and/or yolk levels of testosterone, a hormone that might regulate the development of HVc. We report that total HVc neuron number is consistently and independently predicted by the size of each of its two projection populations, suggesting that the proportional makeup of HVc is tightly regulated at least in male zebra finches. Also, while we failed to detect a significant effect of sibling order on either the number of neurons in HVc or yolk testosterone concentration, we found that clutch of origin made a large contribution to variation in both early hormone levels and HVc neuron number.