Abstract
In oscine passerine birds (songbirds), auditory information which is conveyed from the higher auditory regions such as NCM (caudal medial nidopallium) in the posteritor telencephalon to HVC in "song control system" is thought to be necessary for "song perception" and/or "song learning". NCM in female songbirds and parrots is associated with perception of male song. In the budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus), a small parrot species, NCM is reported to have an indirect connection with NLC (central nucleus of the lateral nidopallium; corresponding to HVC of songbirds). On the other hand, another higher auditory regions such as NF (frontal nidopallium) in the anterior telencephalon have direct connection with NLC, suggesting that those regions have more of role for song perception. We, therefore, used immunocytochemistry for the protein product of the immediate early gene ZENK (Zenk protein; ZENK is also known as zif/268, egr-1, NGFI-A,krox-24, TIS 8) to investigate the role of NF for song perception in female budgerigars. We observed that there was no significant difference between song stimulus and control groups in Zenk immunoreactivity in NF. Thus, it seems plausible that the NCM (the posterior higher auditory region) in the posterior higher auditory regions is more important for the perception of song in female budgerigars. [Jpn J Physiol 55 Suppl:S158 (2005)]
