Differential FoxP2 and FoxP1 expression in a vocal learning nucleus of the developing budgerigar. Issue 7 (26th November 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Whitney, Osceola; Voyles, Tawni; Hara, Erina; Chen, Qianqian; White, Stephanie A.; Wright, Timothy F.
• Is Part Of: Developmental neurobiology. Volume 75:Issue 7(2015:Jul.)
• Page Start: 778
• Page End: 790
• Publication Date: 2014-11-26
• Subjects: Neurobiology -- Periodicals; Neurobiology; Neurobiologie -- Périodiques; Neurobiology; Periodicals; Periodicals; 573.838
• DOI: 10.1002/dneu.22247
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1932-8451

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>ABSTRACT</title> <p>The forkhead domain FOXP2 and FOXP1 transcription factors are implicated in several cognitive disorders with language deficits, notably autism, and thus play a central role in learned vocal motor behavior in humans. Although a similar role for <italic>FoxP2</italic> and <italic>FoxP1</italic> is proposed for other vertebrate species, including songbirds, the neurodevelopmental expression of these genes are unknown in a species with lifelong vocal learning abilities. Like humans, budgerigars (<italic>Melopsittacus undulatus)</italic> learn new vocalizations throughout their entire lifetime. Like songbirds, budgerigars have distinct brain nuclei for vocal learning, which include the magnocellular nucleus of the medial striatum (MMSt), a basal ganglia region that is considered developmentally and functionally analogous to Area X in songbirds. Here, we used <italic>in situ</italic> hybridization and immunohistochemistry to investigate <italic>FoxP2</italic> and <italic>FoxP1</italic> expression in the MMSt of juvenile and adult budgerigars. We found <italic>FoxP2</italic> mRNA and protein expression levels in the MMSt that were lower than the surrounding striatum throughout development and adulthood. In contrast, <italic>FoxP1</italic> mRNA and protein had an elevated MMSt/striatum expression ratio as birds matured, regardless of their sex. These results show that life‐long vocal plasticity in budgerigars is associated with persistent low‐level <italic>FoxP2</italic> expression in the budgerigar MMSt, and suggests the possibility that <italic>FoxP1</italic> plays an organizational role in the neurodevelopment of vocal motor circuitry. Thus, developmental regulation of the <italic>FoxP2</italic> and <italic>FoxP1</italic> genes in the basal ganglia appears essential for vocal mimicry in a range of species that possess this relatively rare trait. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 75: 778–790, 2015</p> </abstract>