Gene expression of Dio2 (thyroid hormone converting enzyme) in telencephalon is linked with predisposed biological motion preference in domestic chicks.

Gene expression of Dio2 (thyroid hormone converting enzyme) in telencephalon is linked with predisposed biological motion preference in domestic chicks.
Behav Brain Res. 2018 Apr 25;:
Authors: Takemura Y, Yamaguchi S, Aoki N, Miura M, Homma KJ, Matsushima T
Abstract
Filial imprinting leads to the formation of social attachment if training is performed during a brief sensitive period after hatching. We found that thyroid hormone (3,5,3'-triiodothyronine, T3) acts as a critical determining factor of the sensitive period in domestic chicks. Imprinting upregulates gene expression of the converting enzyme (Dio2, type 2 iodothyronine deiodinase) in the telencephalon, leading to increased brain T3 content. If systemically applied, T3 facilitates imprinting in aged chicks even after the sensitive period is over. Imprinting is also associated with the rapid development of visual perception. Exposure to motion pictures induces a predisposed preference to Johansson's biological motion (BM), and those individuals with higher BM preference are more easily imprinted. Here, we examined whether Dio2 expression is also linked with BM predisposition. Chicks were trained by a rotating red block, and tested for imprinting (experiment 1) and BM preference (experiment 2). To examine the time courses of behavioural and physiological processes, Dio2 expression in telencephalon was compared among three groups: naïve control chicks, and chicks trained for a ...

Source: Behavioural Brain Research - April 25, 2018 Category: Neurology Authors: Takemura Y, Yamaguchi S, Aoki N, Miura M, Homma KJ, Matsushima T Tags: Behav Brain Res Source Type: research