Androgen-Concentrating Cells in the Midbrain of a Songbird

• DOI: 10.1126/science.179.4077.1005
• Publication Date: 2006-10-05T14:05:45Z
• Authors: Richard E. Zigmond; Fernando Nottebohm; Donald W. Pfaff
• Keywords: Songbird

Androgen-concentrating cells were found in the midbrain of chaffinch Fringilla coelebs by autoradiography using tritiated testosterone. Labeled localized primarily nucleus intercollicularis, an area from which vocalizations can be electrically stimulated birds. These autoradiographic results suggest that intercollicularis is a site action androgens on avian vocal behavior.