Song behavior, NGF level and NPY distribution in the brain of adult male zebra finches

The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of nerve growth fa ctor (NGF) and neuropeptide Y (NPY) in the higher vocal center (HVC) on sin ging behavior of adult male zebra finches. The results of our studies show: (a) that NGF is present in the brain of these birds and it is higher in th e HVC than in the other neostriatal tissues; (b) that exogenous administrat ion of NGF or NGF-antibody had no discernible effect on singing behavior; a nd (c) that NGF enhances the NPY immunoreactivity in neurons and fibers loc alized in HVC and other areas of the neostriatum and hippocampus whereas an ti-NGF decreased NPY stained cells in the hippocampus. These studies indica te that NGF is produced in the brain of zebra finch and that it plays a rol e in the regulation of NPY. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reser ved.