Aromatase and nonaromatase neurons in the zebra finch secondary auditory forebrain are indistinct in their song‐driven gene induction and intrinsic electrophysiological properties. (7th October 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: de Bournonville, Catherine; Mendoza, Kyssia Ruth; Remage‐Healey, Luke
• Is Part Of: European journal of neuroscience. Volume 54:Number 9(2021)
• Page Start: 7072
• Page End: 7091
• Publication Date: 2021-10-07
• Subjects: birdsong -- EGR1 -- estradiol -- intrinsic excitability -- neurosteroid; Nervous system -- Periodicals; 612.8
• DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15463
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0953-816X

Abstract

Abstract: Estrogens support major brain functions including cognition, reproduction, neuroprotection and sensory processing. Neuroestrogens are synthesized within some brain areas by the enzyme aromatase and can rapidly modulate local circuit functions, yet the cellular physiology and sensory‐response profiles of aromatase neurons are essentially unknown. In songbirds, social and acoustic stimuli drive neuroestrogen elevations in the auditory forebrain caudomedial nidopallium (NCM). In both males and females, neuroestrogens rapidly enhance NCM auditory processing and auditory learning. Estrogen‐producing neurons in NCM may therefore exhibit distinguishing profiles for sensory‐activation and intrinsic electrophysiology. Here, we explored these questions using both immunocyctochemistry and electrophysiological recordings. Immunoreactivity for aromatase and the immediate early gene EGR1, a marker of activity and plasticity, were quantified in NCM of song‐exposed animals versus silence‐exposed controls. Using whole‐cell patch clamp recordings from NCM slices, we also documented the intrinsic excitability profiles of aromatase‐positive and aromatase‐negative neurons. We observed that a subset of aromatase neurons were significantly activated during song playback, in both males and females, and in both hemispheres. A comparable population of non‐aromatase‐expressing neurons were also similarly driven by song stimulation. Membrane properties (i.e., resting membrane potential, rheobase, input resistance and multiple action potential parameters) were similarly indistinguishable between NCM aromatase and non‐aromatase neurons. Together, these findings demonstrate that aromatase and non‐aromatase neurons in NCM are indistinct in terms of their intrinsic electrophysiology and responses to song. Nevertheless, such similarities in response properties may belie more subtle differences in underlying conductances and/or computational roles that may be crucial to their function. Abstract : Neurons in the songbird auditory region NCM that synthesize estrogens (Aro+, for the enzyme aromatase) are similar to their non‐aromatase counterparts (Aro−) in several key dimensions. Whole‐cell recordings (bottom) show Aro+ and Aro− neurons have similar intrinsic parameters, including active and passive membrane features. In response to song playback, the rapid induction of the plasticity gene egr1 (red) reaches comparable levels in both populations of Aro+ and Aro− neurons.