Developmental changes in carbachol-stimulated phosphoinositide turnover in synaptoneurosomes of the robust nucleus of the archistriatum in the zebra finch.

Abstract

The effects of acetylcholine (ACh) on synaptoneurosomes of the robust nucleus of the archistriatum (RA), one of the song control nuclei, were investigated during the sensitive period of song learning in the zebra finch. Carbachol (an ACh agonist) stimulated phosphoinositide (PI) turnover at three different ages. Corresponding to a marked increase in ACh levels in the RA, carbachol-stimulated PI turnover peaked during the most sensitive learning period in the life of the zebra finch. These findings suggest that ACh contributes to the regulation of synaptic plasticity in RA neurones involved with song learning in the zebra finch.