Testosterone elevates expression of tenascin-R and oligomannosidic carbohydrates in developing male zebra finches.

Abstract

The song system of zebra finches is a model for studying the influence of steroids on neural connectivity and behavior during development. To investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the song-related and gonadal hormone-regulated development of neural activity, we have chosen to investigate the expression of recognition molecules in the brain nuclei associated with motor control of song production. Here we show that testosterone accelerates expression of the predominantly oligodendroglia-, but also neuron-associated extracellular matrix glycoprotein tenascin-R and the oligomannosidic carbohydrate L3 during the third and seventh posthatching week in the higher vocal center (HVC) and robust nucleus of the archistriatum (RA), but not in other brain regions. The results suggest that recognition molecules and associated carbohydrate structures can be regulated by testosterone and that an increased expression of these molecules correlates with testosterone-induced modifications of song behavior.