Molecular architecture of the zebra finch arcopallium. Issue 15 (2nd May 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mello, Claudio V.; Kaser, Taylor; Buckner, Alexa A.; Wirthlin, Morgan; Lovell, Peter V.
• Is Part Of: Journal of comparative neurology. Volume 527:Issue 15(2019)
• Page Start: 2512
• Page End: 2556
• Publication Date: 2019-05-02
• Subjects: amygdala -- avian -- cortical layers -- in situ hybridization -- molecularly defined brain regions -- oscine songbird -- RRID: SCR_012988) -- taenia -- ZEBrA (www.zebrafinchatlas.org); Comparative neurobiology -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; 616
• DOI: 10.1002/cne.24688
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0021-9967

Abstract

Abstract: The arcopallium, a key avian forebrain region, receives inputs from numerous brain areas and is a major source of descending sensory and motor projections. While there is evidence of arcopallial subdivisions, the internal organization or the arcopallium is not well understood. The arcopallium is also considered the avian homologue of mammalian deep cortical layers and/or amygdalar subdivisions, but one‐to‐one correspondences are controversial. Here we present a molecular characterization of the arcopallium in the zebra finch, a passerine songbird species and a major model organism for vocal learning studies. Based on in situ hybridization for arcopallial‐expressed transcripts (AQP1, C1QL3, CBLN2, CNTN4, CYP19A1, ESR1/2, FEZF2, MGP, NECAB2, PCP4, PVALB, SCN3B, SCUBE1, ZBTB20, and others) in comparison with cytoarchitectonic features, we have defined 20 distinct regions that can be grouped into six major domains (anterior, posterior, dorsal, ventral, medial, and intermediate arcopallium, respectively; AA, AP, AD, AV, AM, and AI). The data also help to establish the arcopallium as primarily pallial, support a unique topography of the arcopallium in passerines, highlight similarities between the vocal robust nucleus of the arcopallium (RA) and AI, and provide insights into the similarities and differences of cortical and amygdalar regions between birds and mammals. We also propose the use of AMV (instead of nucleus taenia/TnA), AMD, AD, and AI as initial steps toward a universal arcopallial nomenclature. Besides clarifying the internal organization of the arcopallium, the data provide a coherent basis for further functional and comparative studies of this complex avian brain region. Abstract : Using in situ hybridization, in comparison with cytoarchitectonic features, the authors identify 6 major domains, and 20 molecularly distinct subdomains within the arcopallium of the adult male Zebra finch. The data provide a basis for further functional and comparative studies of this complex avian brain region.