Meeting Abstract
Mounting evidence from both field and laboratory studies suggest that the perinatal environment can have permanent effects on adult physiology. The avian brain is particularly vulnerable to hormonal fluctuations during the first few months post-hatch due to rapid neurodevelopment, particularly in telencephalic song nuclei. Past literature has found that elevated corticosterone (CORT) during this sensitive post-hatch period is correlated with decreased song quality. To date, few studies have examined mechanisms behind this physiological modification associated with changes in the developmental environment. One possibility is that CORT alters the epigenetic status of the neural glucocorticoid receptor (GR) via DNA methylation. Changes in methylation status may alter gene expression, thus leading to downstream changes in both neuroanatomy and phenotypic expression. Here, we examine the effects of the administration of oral CORT to wild Eastern Bluebird nestlings on the volume and area of telencephalic song nuclei. Further, we are assessing the methylation status of the GR promoter using bisulfite sequencing. Our results have the potential to help elucidate a mechanism behind physiological priming during development.
