Transcriptomics of Parental Care in the Hypothalamic-Septal Region of Female Zebra Finch Brain

Rashmi Kumari; Emese A. Fazekas; Boglárka Morvai; Edina B. Udvari; Fanni Dóra; Gergely Zachar; Tamás Székely; Ákos Pogány; Árpád Dobolyi

doi:10.3390/ijms23052518

Transcriptomics of Parental Care in the Hypothalamic-Septal Region of Female Zebra Finch Brain

Rashmi Kumari, Emese A. Fazekas, Boglárka Morvai, Edina B. Udvari, Fanni Dóra, Gergely Zachar, Tamás Székely, Ákos Pogány, Árpád Dobolyi

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

3 Citations (SciVal)

Abstract

(1) Background: The objective of this study was to uncover genomic causes of parental care. Since birds do not lactate and, therefore, do not show the gene expressional changes required for lactation, we investigate gene expression associated with parenting in caring and non-caring females in an avian species, the small passerine bird zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata). Here, we compare expression patterns in the hypothalamic-septal region since, previously, we showed that this area is activated in parenting females. (2) Methods: Transcriptome sequencing was first applied in a dissected part of the zebra finch brain related to taking care of the nestlings as compared to a control group of social pairs without nestlings. (3) Results: We found genes differentially expressed between caring and non-caring females. When introducing a log2fold change threshold of 1.5, 13 annotated genes were significantly upregulated in breeding pairs, while 39 annotated genes were downregulated. Significant enrichments of dopamine and acetylcholine biosynthetic processes were identified among upregulated pathways, while pro-opiomelanocortin and thyroid hormone pathways were downregulated, suggesting the importance of these systems in parental care. Network analysis further suggested neuro-immunological changes in mothers. (4) Conclusions: The results confirm the roles of several hypothesized major pathways in parental care, whereas novel pathways are also proposed.

Original language	English
Article number	2518
Journal	International Journal of Molecular Sciences
Volume	23
Issue number	5
Early online date	24 Feb 2022
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23052518
Publication status	Published - 1 Mar 2022

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Funding: The work was supported by the Hungarian National Research, Development and Inno‐ vation Office OTKA K116538, OTKA K134221, OTKA FK 131966, NKFIH‐4300‐1/2017‐NKP_17‐ 00002 research grants, and Eötvös Loránd University Thematic Excellence Programme 2020 (TKP2020‐IKA‐05) supported by the National Research, Development and Innovation Office. Min‐ istry of Innovation and Technology of Hungary from the National Research, Development and In‐ novation Fund, financed under the code TKP2021‐EGA/TKP2021‐NVA/TKP2021‐NKTA. ÁP was supported by the János Bolyai Research Scholarship of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and the ÚNKP‐20‐5 New National Excellence Program of the Ministry for Innovation and Technology from the source of the National Research, Development and Innovation Fund.

Keywords

Gene expression
Gene ontology
Hypothalamic-septal region
Parental care
Posthatching period
RNA-Seq
Social behaviour
Transcriptome sequencing
Zebra finch mother

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Catalysis
Molecular Biology
Spectroscopy
Computer Science Applications
Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
Organic Chemistry
Inorganic Chemistry

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title = "Transcriptomics of Parental Care in the Hypothalamic-Septal Region of Female Zebra Finch Brain",

abstract = "(1) Background: The objective of this study was to uncover genomic causes of parental care. Since birds do not lactate and, therefore, do not show the gene expressional changes required for lactation, we investigate gene expression associated with parenting in caring and non-caring females in an avian species, the small passerine bird zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata). Here, we compare expression patterns in the hypothalamic-septal region since, previously, we showed that this area is activated in parenting females. (2) Methods: Transcriptome sequencing was first applied in a dissected part of the zebra finch brain related to taking care of the nestlings as compared to a control group of social pairs without nestlings. (3) Results: We found genes differentially expressed between caring and non-caring females. When introducing a log2fold change threshold of 1.5, 13 annotated genes were significantly upregulated in breeding pairs, while 39 annotated genes were downregulated. Significant enrichments of dopamine and acetylcholine biosynthetic processes were identified among upregulated pathways, while pro-opiomelanocortin and thyroid hormone pathways were downregulated, suggesting the importance of these systems in parental care. Network analysis further suggested neuro-immunological changes in mothers. (4) Conclusions: The results confirm the roles of several hypothesized major pathways in parental care, whereas novel pathways are also proposed.",

keywords = "Gene expression, Gene ontology, Hypothalamic-septal region, Parental care, Posthatching period, RNA-Seq, Social behaviour, Transcriptome sequencing, Zebra finch mother",

author = "Rashmi Kumari and Fazekas, {Emese A.} and Bogl{\'a}rka Morvai and Udvari, {Edina B.} and Fanni D{\'o}ra and Gergely Zachar and Tam{\'a}s Sz{\'e}kely and {\'A}kos Pog{\'a}ny and {\'A}rp{\'a}d Dobolyi",

note = "Funding Information: Funding: The work was supported by the Hungarian National Research, Development and Inno‐ vation Office OTKA K116538, OTKA K134221, OTKA FK 131966, NKFIH‐4300‐1/2017‐NKP_17‐ 00002 research grants, and E{\"o}tv{\"o}s Lor{\'a}nd University Thematic Excellence Programme 2020 (TKP2020‐IKA‐05) supported by the National Research, Development and Innovation Office. Min‐ istry of Innovation and Technology of Hungary from the National Research, Development and In‐ novation Fund, financed under the code TKP2021‐EGA/TKP2021‐NVA/TKP2021‐NKTA. {\'A}P was supported by the J{\'a}nos Bolyai Research Scholarship of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and the {\'U}NKP‐20‐5 New National Excellence Program of the Ministry for Innovation and Technology from the source of the National Research, Development and Innovation Fund. ",

year = "2022",

month = mar,

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doi = "10.3390/ijms23052518",

language = "English",

volume = "23",

journal = "International Journal of Molecular Sciences",

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number = "5",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Transcriptomics of Parental Care in the Hypothalamic-Septal Region of Female Zebra Finch Brain

AU - Kumari, Rashmi

AU - Fazekas, Emese A.

AU - Morvai, Boglárka

AU - Udvari, Edina B.

AU - Dóra, Fanni

AU - Zachar, Gergely

AU - Székely, Tamás

AU - Pogány, Ákos

AU - Dobolyi, Árpád

N1 - Funding Information: Funding: The work was supported by the Hungarian National Research, Development and Inno‐ vation Office OTKA K116538, OTKA K134221, OTKA FK 131966, NKFIH‐4300‐1/2017‐NKP_17‐ 00002 research grants, and Eötvös Loránd University Thematic Excellence Programme 2020 (TKP2020‐IKA‐05) supported by the National Research, Development and Innovation Office. Min‐ istry of Innovation and Technology of Hungary from the National Research, Development and In‐ novation Fund, financed under the code TKP2021‐EGA/TKP2021‐NVA/TKP2021‐NKTA. ÁP was supported by the János Bolyai Research Scholarship of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and the ÚNKP‐20‐5 New National Excellence Program of the Ministry for Innovation and Technology from the source of the National Research, Development and Innovation Fund.

PY - 2022/3/1

Y1 - 2022/3/1

N2 - (1) Background: The objective of this study was to uncover genomic causes of parental care. Since birds do not lactate and, therefore, do not show the gene expressional changes required for lactation, we investigate gene expression associated with parenting in caring and non-caring females in an avian species, the small passerine bird zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata). Here, we compare expression patterns in the hypothalamic-septal region since, previously, we showed that this area is activated in parenting females. (2) Methods: Transcriptome sequencing was first applied in a dissected part of the zebra finch brain related to taking care of the nestlings as compared to a control group of social pairs without nestlings. (3) Results: We found genes differentially expressed between caring and non-caring females. When introducing a log2fold change threshold of 1.5, 13 annotated genes were significantly upregulated in breeding pairs, while 39 annotated genes were downregulated. Significant enrichments of dopamine and acetylcholine biosynthetic processes were identified among upregulated pathways, while pro-opiomelanocortin and thyroid hormone pathways were downregulated, suggesting the importance of these systems in parental care. Network analysis further suggested neuro-immunological changes in mothers. (4) Conclusions: The results confirm the roles of several hypothesized major pathways in parental care, whereas novel pathways are also proposed.

AB - (1) Background: The objective of this study was to uncover genomic causes of parental care. Since birds do not lactate and, therefore, do not show the gene expressional changes required for lactation, we investigate gene expression associated with parenting in caring and non-caring females in an avian species, the small passerine bird zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata). Here, we compare expression patterns in the hypothalamic-septal region since, previously, we showed that this area is activated in parenting females. (2) Methods: Transcriptome sequencing was first applied in a dissected part of the zebra finch brain related to taking care of the nestlings as compared to a control group of social pairs without nestlings. (3) Results: We found genes differentially expressed between caring and non-caring females. When introducing a log2fold change threshold of 1.5, 13 annotated genes were significantly upregulated in breeding pairs, while 39 annotated genes were downregulated. Significant enrichments of dopamine and acetylcholine biosynthetic processes were identified among upregulated pathways, while pro-opiomelanocortin and thyroid hormone pathways were downregulated, suggesting the importance of these systems in parental care. Network analysis further suggested neuro-immunological changes in mothers. (4) Conclusions: The results confirm the roles of several hypothesized major pathways in parental care, whereas novel pathways are also proposed.

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KW - Gene ontology

KW - Hypothalamic-septal region

KW - Parental care

KW - Posthatching period

KW - RNA-Seq

KW - Social behaviour

KW - Transcriptome sequencing

KW - Zebra finch mother

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DO - 10.3390/ijms23052518

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85125587220

SN - 1661-6596

VL - 23

JO - International Journal of Molecular Sciences

JF - International Journal of Molecular Sciences

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M1 - 2518

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Transcriptomics of Parental Care in the Hypothalamic-Septal Region of Female Zebra Finch Brain

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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