Antiandrogen blocks estrogen‐induced masculinization of the song system in female zebra finches

Abstract

Song behavior and the neural song system that serves it are sexually dimorphic in zebra finches. In this species, males sing and females normally do not. The sex differences in the song system include sex differences in the proportion of neurons that express androgen receptors, which is higher in specific brain regions of males. Estradiol (E₂) administered in early development profoundly masculinizes the song system of females, including the proportion of neurons expressing androgen receptors. We examined whether or not the expression of these androgen receptors was causally related to the E₂-induced masculinization of this system by coadministering Flutamide, which blocks androgen action at the receptor, along with E₂ at hatching. E₂ alone had its usual masculinizing effect on the female song system, measured in adulthood: increasing the size of song nuclei, the size of neurons in HVC, RA, and lMAN, and the number of neurons in HVC. E₂'s masculinizing action, however, was significantly diminished on all measures by coadministering Flutamide. Indeed, females receiving both E₂ and Flutamide were never significantly more masculine than controls on any measure. Flutamide alone had no effect. Our results strongly suggest that the activation of androgen receptors is necessary for the E₂-induced masculinization of the song system in females. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Neurobiol 51: 1–8, 2002