Unravelling the role of thyroid hormones in seasonal neuroplasticity in European Starlings **Sturnus vulgaris** University of Antwerp
Annemie Van Der Linden, Marleen Verhoye, Geert De Groof, Jasmien Orije, Gaurav Majumdar, Sander R. Raymaekers, Jonckers, Gregory F. Ball, Veerle M. Darras
Thyroid hormones clearly play a role in the seasonal regulation of reproduction, but any role they might play in song behavior and the associated seasonal neuroplasticity in songbirds remains to be elucidated. To pursue this question, we first established seasonal patterns in the expression of thyroid hormone regulating genes in male European starlings employing in situ hybridization methods. Thyroid hormone transporter LAT1 expression in the song nucleus HVC was elevated during the photosensitive phase, pointing towards an active role of thyroid hormones during this window of possible ...