Research article summary (published 24 Mar 2008):

Telencephalic neurons monosynaptically link brainstem and forebrain premotor networks necessary for song.

Full Abstract

Birdsong, like human speech, is a series of learned vocal gestures resulting from the coordination of vocal and respiratory brainstem networks under the control of the telencephalon. The song motor circuit includes premotor and motor cortical analogs, known as HVC (used as a proper name) and RA (the robust nucleus of the arcopallium), respectively. Previous studies showed that HVC projects to RA and that RA projection neurons (PNs) topographically innervate brainstem vocal-motor and respiratory networks. The idea that singing-related activity flows between HVC and RA in a strictly feedforward manner is a central component of all models of song production. In contrast to this prevailing view of song motor circuit organization, we show that RA sends a reciprocal projection directly to HVC. Lentiviral labeling of RA PN axons and transgene tagging of RA PN synaptic terminals reveal a direct projection from RA to HVC. Retrograde tracing from HVC demonstrates that this projection originates exclusively from neurons in dorsocaudal regions of RA. Using dual retrograde tracer injections, we further show that many of these RA(HVC) neurons also innervate the brainstem nucleus retroambigualis, which is premotor to expiratory motoneurons, thereby identifying a population of RA PNs positioned to coordinate activity at higher and lower levels of the song motor circuit. In combination, our findings identify a previously unknown pathway that may enable a subset of RA neurons to provide song-related signals to the respiratory brainstem but also transmit a copy of this information to song patterning networks in HVC.

Author information

Author/s: Roberts, Todd F (TF); Klein, Marguerita E (ME); Kubke, M Fabiana (MF); Wild, J Martin (JM); Mooney, Richard (R);

Affiliation: Department of Neurobiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA.

Grants: DC-02524 (Agency:NIDCD NIH HHS) ; F32DC-008258 (Agency:NIDCD NIH HHS) ; R01DC-04691 (Agency:NIDCD NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience (J Neurosci), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2008-Mar; vol 28 (issue 13) : pp 3479-89

Dates: Created 2008/03/27; Completed 2008/04/28; Revised 2008/05/16;

PMID: 18367614, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: 18 Feb 2009 00:00:00)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Animals Biotin - analogs & derivatives; metabolism Brain Stem - physiology Cells, Cultured Cholera Toxin - metabolism Dextrans - metabolism Embryo, Nonmammalian Finches High Vocal Center - cytology Lentivirus - physiology Male Membrane Glycoproteins - genetics; metabolism

Nerve Net - physiology Neural Pathways - physiology Neurons - physiology Parvalbumins - metabolism Presynaptic Terminals - metabolism Prosencephalon - cytology Synapses - physiology Synaptophysin - metabolism Telencephalon - cytology Transfection - methods Viral Envelope Proteins - genetics; metabolism Vocalization, Animal - physiology

Associated Chemicals: G protein, vesicular stomatitis virus (0) ; Membrane Glycoproteins (0) ; Parvalbumins (0) ; Synaptophysin (0) ; Viral Envelope Proteins (0) ; biotinylated dextran amine (0) ; Biotin (58-85-5) ; Dextrans (9004-54-0) ; Cholera Toxin (9012-63-9)

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