-
[hal-04735026] Exploring neuronal markers and early social environment influence in divergent quail lines selected for social motivation
Many species, including humans exhibit a wide range of social behaviors that are crucial for the adaptation and survival of most species. Brain organization and function are shaped by genetic and environmental factors, although their precise contributions have been relatively understudied in the context of artificial selection. We used divergent lines of quail selected on their high versus low level of motivation to approach a group of conspecifics (S + and S-, respectively) to investigate the influence of genetic selection and early social environment on sociability. We observed distinct sex-and brainregion-specific expression patterns of three neuronal markers: mesotocin, and vasotocin, the avian homologues of mammalian oxytocin and vasopressin, as well as aromatase, the enzyme that converts androgens into estrogens. These markers displayed pronounced and neuroanatomically specific differences between S + and S-quail. Additionally, in a second experiment, we assessed the influence of early social environment on social skills in juvenile birds. Mixing S + and S-resulted in more S-males approaching the group without affecting the sociability of S + or other behaviors, suggesting that the early social environment may influence the results of genetic selection. In conclusion, the divergent quail lines offer a valuable model for unraveling the neuronal and behavioral mechanisms underlying social behaviors.
ano.nymous@ccsd.cnrs.fr.invalid (Lucas Court) 14 Oct 2024
https://hal.science/hal-04735026v1
-
[hal-04524456] Chronic dietary exposure to a glyphosate-based herbicide in broiler hens has long-term impacts on the progeny metabolism
Glyphosate-based herbicides (GBH) are the most commonly used herbicides in agriculture. Sev-eral studies reported possible adverse effects on human and animal models after a GBH exposure. However, the effects of a temporary maternal exposure on the progeny have been poorly documented, especially in avian mod-els. We investigated the effects of a hen chronic dietary exposure to a GBH on the progeny, obtained during the period following the withdrawal of GBH from the diet. Hens were exposed to a GBH via their food for 6 wk, after which the GBH was removed from their food. Eggs from these hens were collected 3 wk after the GBH was withdrawn for 1 wk. We monitored the growth perform-ances, metabolic parameters, and behavior from the progeny of the hens (Ex-GBH chicks, n = 186) and com-pared them with those of unexposed control-hen prog-eny (CT chicks, n = 213). Ex-GBH chicks were more likely to explore their new environment than CT chicks during the open-field test. In addition, they had an increased fattening and blood triglycerides level, whereas their food consumption was similar to CT chicks. Quantitative PCR on the chemerin system and FASN in chicks livers indicate a transcriptional activity in favor of fatty acid synthesis, and lipidomic analysis on chicks abdominal adipose tissue reveal a global increase in monounsaturated fatty acid and a global decrease in polyunsaturated fatty acids. Seven genes involved in the synthesis of fatty acids were identified with the open access LIPIDMAP software, and their disturbance in Ex-GBH chicks was confirmed via qPCR. Taken together, these results suggest that the progeny of hens temporarily exposed to a GBH are more likely to fatten, even with a balanced diet. The removal of GBH from their contaminated environment would therefore not be sufficient to completely restore their health, has it could induce transgenerational effects.
ano.nymous@ccsd.cnrs.fr.invalid (Anthony Estienne) 28 Mar 2024
https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-04524456v1
-
[hal-04185480] Short photoperiod modulates behavior, cognition and hippocampal neurogenesis in male Japanese quail
The mechanisms underlying the photoperiodic control of reproduction in mammals and birds have been recently clarified. In contrast, the potential impact of photoperiod on more complex, integrative processes, such as cognitive behaviors, remains poorly characterized. Here, we investigated the impact of contrasted long and short photoperiods (LP, 16 h light/day and SP, 8 h light/day, respectively) on learning, spatial orientation abilities, and emotional reactivity in male Japanese quail. In addition, we quantified cell proliferation and young cell maturation/migration within the hippocampus, a brain region involved in spatial orientation. Our study reveals that, in male quail, SP increases emotional responses and spatial orientation abilities, compared to LP. Behaviorally, SP birds were found to be more fearful than LP birds, exhibiting more freezing in the open field and taking longer to exit the dark compartment in the emergence test. Furthermore, SP birds were significantly less aggressive than LP birds in a mirror test. Cognitively, SP birds were slower to habituate and learn a spatial orientation task compared to LP birds. However, during a recall test, SP birds performed better than LP birds. From a neuroanatomical standpoint, SP birds had a significantly lower density of young neurons, and also tended to have a lower density of mature neurons within the hippocampus, compared to LP birds. In conclusion, our data reveal that, beyond breeding control, photoperiod also exerts a profound influence on behavior, cognition, and brain plasticity, which comprise the seasonal program of this species.
ano.nymous@ccsd.cnrs.fr.invalid (Marion Georgelin) 22 Aug 2023
https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-04185480v1
-
[hal-03753546] Domestic hens succeed at serial reversal learning and perceptual concept generalisation using a new automated touchscreen device
Improving the welfare of farm animals depends on our knowledge on how they perceive and interpret their environment; the latter depends on their cognitive abilities. Hence, limited knowledge of the range of cognitive abilities of farm animals is a major concern. An effective approach to explore the cognitive range of a species is to apply automated testing devices, which are still underdeveloped in farm animals. In screen-like studies, the uses of automated devices are few in domestic hens. We developed an original fully automated touchscreen device using digital computer-drawn colour pictures and independent sensible cells adapted for cognitive testing in domestic hens, enabling a wide range of test types from low to high complexity. This study aimed to test the efficiency of our device using two cognitive tests. We focused on tasks related to adaptive capacities to environmental variability, such as flexibility and generalisation capacities as this is a good start to approach more complex cognitive capacities. We implemented a serial reversal learning task, categorised as a simple cognitive test, and a delayed matching-to-sample (dMTS) task on an identity concept, followed by a generalisation test, categorised as more complex. In the serial reversal learning task, the hens performed equally for the two changing reward contingencies in only three reversal stages. In the dMTS task, the hens increased their performance rapidly throughout the training sessions. Moreover, to the best of our knowledge, we present the first positive result of identity concept generalisation in a dMTS task in domestic hens. Our results provide additional information on the behavioural flexibility and concept understanding of domestic hens. They also support the idea that fully automated devices would improve knowledge of farm animals’ cognition.
ano.nymous@ccsd.cnrs.fr.invalid (Rachel Degrande) 18 Aug 2022
https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-03753546v1
-
[hal-03555171] Prenatal maternal stress is associated with behavioural and epigenetic changes in Japanese quail
Prenatal maternal stress (PMS) influences many facets of offspring’s phenotype including morphology, behaviour and cognitive abilities. Recent research suggested that PMS also induced epigenetic modifications. In the present study, we analysed, in the Japanese quail, the effects of PMS on the emotional reactivity and cognitive abilities of the F1 offspring. We also investigated in the hippocampus, the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus and subnuclei of the arcopallium/amygdala the level of two histone post-translational modifications, H3K4me2 and H3K27me3, known to be impacted by stress. We found that PMS does not affect F1 quail’s learning abilities but increases their emotional reactivity. Moreover, we demonstrated that PMS induced an increased density of H3K27me3 positive cells, in the hippocampus, paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus and dorsal nucleus of the amygdala, but not variations of H3K4me2. As these brain regions are involved in the control of vertebrates’ emotional responses, the effect of PMS on the epigenetic mark H3K27me3 could possibly be a mechanism involved in the behavioural effects we observed in F1 quail.
ano.nymous@ccsd.cnrs.fr.invalid (Marion Charrier) 30 Mar 2022
https://hal.science/hal-03555171v1
-
[hal-04179448] La caille japonaise (Coturnix coturnix japonica) : un modèle pour des études dans de nombreuses disciplines
La caille japonaise est un petit oiseau de la famille des Phasianidés qui est très utilisé pour étudier de nombreux processus développementaux et qui sert également de modèle pour mimer les processus d’intérêt présents chez les volailles. Cet oiseau de petite taille a une croissance rapide avec une maturité sexuelle aux alentours de 8 à 10 semaines, ce qui facilite la production de lignées génétiques. La caille a été une espèce utilisée pour des travaux fondateurs sur le développement embryonnaire. Les travaux en toxicologie ont également beaucoup utilisé ce modèle. La caille a été utilisée pour étudier certains facteurs maternels et transgénérationnels qui influencent les comportements et divers mécanismes physiologiques. Cette espèce constitue un modèle d’étude historique pour comprendre comment le cerveau intègre le signal photopériodique. Cette espèce est capable d’apprentissages simples de type conditionnement, mais aussi d’apprentissages plus complexes reposant sur la mémoire spatiale et les bases neurobiologiques de ces processus cognitifs font l’objet d’investigations croissantes. Cet oiseau est utilisé comme modèle pour certains caractères de production des volailles, mais également pour rechercher des mécanismes biologiques très variés d’intérêt fondamental.
ano.nymous@ccsd.cnrs.fr.invalid (Christine Leterrier) 09 Aug 2023
https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-04179448v1
-
[hal-03369464] Training level reveals a dynamic dialogue between stress and memory systems in birds
Chronic stress profoundly affects forms of declarative memory, such as spatial memory, while it may spare nondeclarative memory, such as cue-based memory. It is known, however, that the effects of chronic stress on memory systems may vary according to the level of training of an individual was submitted. Here, we investigated, in birds, how chronic stress impact spatial and cue-based memories according to training level. For that, control and chronically stressed Japanese quail were trained in a task that could be solved using spatial and cuebased memory and tested for their memory performance after 5 and 15 training days (initial training and overtraining, respectively) and following an emotional challenge (exposure to an open field). Our results showed that, compared to control quail, chronic stress impacted negatively spatial memory performances in stressed birds after initial training, but these differences were lowered after overtraining. Control birds seemed to shift from spatial to cue-based memory to solve the task across overtraining. However, an emotional challenge before testing reinstated the negative impact of chronic stress on spatial memory performances between the groups, revealing that chronic stress/overtraining did not eliminate the spatial memory and differences caused by stressors can reemerge depending on the individual?s immediate psychological state. Contrary to spatial memory, cue-based memory was not affected in chronically stressed birds compared to control birds in any test occasion, confirming its resistance against the negative effects of chronic stress. Altogether these findings reveal a dynamic dialogue between stress, training level, and memory systems in birds.
ano.nymous@ccsd.cnrs.fr.invalid (Flore Lormant) 23 Aug 2023
https://hal.science/hal-03369464v1
-
[hal-02937496] Emotionality modulates the impact of chronic stress on memory and neurogenesis in birds
Chronic stress is a strong modulator of cognitive processes, such as learning and memory. There is, however, great within-individual variation in how an animal perceives and reacts to stressors. These differences in coping with stress modulate the development of stress-induced memory alterations. The present study investigated whether and how chronic stress and individual emotionality interrelate and influence memory performances and brain neurogenesis in birds. For that, we used two lines of Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) with divergent emotionality levels. Highly (E+) and less (E−) emotional quail were submitted to chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) for 3 weeks and trained in a spatial task and a discrimination task, a form of cue-based memory. E + and E− birds were also used to assess the impact of CUS and emotionality on neurogenesis within the hippocampus and the striatum. CUS negatively impacted spatial memory, and cell proliferation, and survival in the hippocampus. High emotionality was associated with a decreased hippocampal neurogenesis. CUS improved discrimination performances and favored the differentiation of newborn cells into mature neurons in the striatum, specifically in E+ birds. Our results provide evidence that CUS consequences on memory and neural plasticity depends both on the memory system and individual differences in behavior.
ano.nymous@ccsd.cnrs.fr.invalid (Flore Lormant) 14 Sep 2020
https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-02937496v1
-
[hal-02437641] Object and food novelty induce distinct patterns of c-fos immunoreactivity in amygdala and striatum in domestic male chicks (Gallus gallus domesticus)
Avoidance of novelty, termed neophobia, protects animals from potential dangers but can also impair their adaptation to novel environments or food resources. This behaviour is particularly well described in birds but the neurobiological correlates remain unexplored. Here, we measured neuronal activity in the amygdala and the striatum, two brain regions believed to be involved in novelty detection, by labelling the early gene c-fos following chicks exposure to a novel food (NF), a novel object (NO) or a familiar food (FF). NF and NO chicks showed significantly longer latencies to touch the food, less time eating and emitted more fear-vocalizations than control chicks. Latency to touch the food was also longer for NO than for NF chicks. Significantly higher densities of c-fos positive cells were present in all the nuclei of the arcopallium/amygdala of NF and NO chicks compared to FF chicks. Also, NO chicks showed higher positive cell densities than NF chicks in the posterior amygdaloid, the intermediate and the medial arcopallium. Exposure to novel food or object induced a similar increase in c-fos expression in the nucleus accumbens and the medial striatum. Our data provide evidence activation of the arcopallium/amygdala is specific of the type of novelty. The activation of striatum may be more related to novelty seeking.
ano.nymous@ccsd.cnrs.fr.invalid (Emilie C Perez) 21 Jul 2022
https://hal.science/hal-02437641v1
-
[hal-02623162] Role of the hippocampus in spatial memory in Japanese quail
The Japanese quail is a powerful model to characterize behavioral, physiological, and neurobiological processes in Galliformes. Behavioral tests have already been adapted for quail to assess memory systems, but despite the pivotal role of the hippocampus in this cognitive process, its involvement in spatial memory has not been demonstrated in this species. In this study, lesions were created in the hippocampus of Japanese quail, and both lesioned and control quail were tested for spatial and cue-based learning performances. These hippocampal lesions specifically impacted spatial learning performance, but spared learning performance when birds could solve the task using their cue-based memory. These findings, thus, highlight that the hippocampus plays a crucial role and is essential for spatial declarative memory. Future studies could aim to elucidate the cellular or molecular mechanisms involved in this form of memory.
ano.nymous@ccsd.cnrs.fr.invalid (Flore Lormant) 26 May 2020
https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-02623162v1
-
[hal-02617898] Brain mapping of the gonadotropin‐inhibitory hormone‐related peptide 2 with a novel antibody suggests a connection with emotional reactivity in the Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica, Temminck & Schlegel, 1849)
[...]
ano.nymous@ccsd.cnrs.fr.invalid (Kévin Poissenot) 25 May 2020
https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-02617898v1
-
[hal-01698022] Incubation temperature affects the expression of young precocial birds’ fear-related behaviours and neuroendocrine correlates
The influence of embryonic microclimate on the behavioural development of birds remains unexplored. In this study, we experimentally tested whether chronic exposure to suboptimal temperatures engendered plasticity in the expression of fear-related behaviours and in the expression of the corticotropin-releasing factor in the brains of domestic chicks (Gallus g. domesticus). We compared the neurobehavioural phenotypes of a control group of chicks incubated in an optimal thermal environment (37.8 °C) with those of a group of experimental chicks exposed chronically in ovo to suboptimal temperatures (27.2 °C for 1 hour twice a day). Chronic exposure to a suboptimal temperature delayed hatching and decreased growth rate and experimental chicks had higher neophobic responses than controls in novel food and novel environment tests. In addition, experimental chicks showed higher expression of corticotropin-releasing factor than did controls in nuclei of the amygdala, a structure involved in the regulation of fear-related behaviours. In this study, we report the first evidence of the strong but underappreciated role of incubation microclimate on the development of birds’ behaviour and its neurobiological correlates.
ano.nymous@ccsd.cnrs.fr.invalid (Aline Bertin) 31 Jan 2018
https://univ-rennes.hal.science/hal-01698022v1
-
[hal-02621169] All bonds are not alike: A psychoendocrine evaluation of infant attachment
Characteristics of attachment were assessed in peer- and object-reared lambs, and compared to mothered subjects by taking into consideration distress, proximity seeking, and exploration during two separation-reunion tests in both the familiar and a novel environment. Plasma cortisol and oxytocin were assayed as physiological indicators of stress and being comforted during the separation-reunion test. Rewarding properties of the familiar figures were also determined in a conditioned place preference-like paradigm. Between-group analysis revealed the existence of secure attachment with the mother, alteration of secure attachment with the peer and weaker attachment with the object. Weaker attachment was expressed by a lack of distress during separation in the home pen and no preference for the place conditioned with the familiar object. Elevated basal plasma oxytocin levels, but not cortisol, observed in maternally deprived lambs were more likely linked to the absence of a maternal figure rather than social comfort during reunion.
ano.nymous@ccsd.cnrs.fr.invalid (Sabrina Gaudin) 26 May 2020
https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-02621169v1
-
[hal-02620929] Are there facial indicators of positive emotions in birds? A first exploration in Japanese quail
The positive aspect of emotions, like pleasure, remains overlooked in birds. Our aim was to contribute to the exploration of facial indicators of positive emotions. To observe contrasting emotional expressions, we used two lines of Japanese quail divergently selected on their inherent fearfulness: a fearful line (long tonic immobility duration: LTI) and a less fearful line (short tonic immobility duration: STI). To induce positive emotions, we gave individual quail the opportunity to perform a rewarding behaviour, dustbathing, in an unfamiliar cage. More STI than LTI quail expressed dustbathing and latencies to dustbathe were significantly shorter in STI than LTI quail. This result indicated that the lines of quail differed in their fearfulness of the situation. We observed crown feather height, throat feather angle and pupil surface before (control) and during dustbathing. We found significant increases in crown feather height, pupil area and angle of throat feathers between the control and the dustbathing phases in STI quail, and pupil area correlated positively with crown feather height. In LTI quail, the angle of throat feathers increased during dustbathing, but the other parameters did not differ. We argue that variation in crown feather height and pupil area may provide indications of positive emotions in Japanese quail.
ano.nymous@ccsd.cnrs.fr.invalid (Aline Bertin) 26 Jul 2023
https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-02620929v1
-
[hal-02621765] A trait for a high emotionality favors spatial memory to the detriment of cue-based memory in Japanese quail
Recent studies provided evidence that a personality trait such as a trait for a high or a low emotionality can either promotes or impairs learning and memory performances. This variability can be partly explained because this trait may have opposite effect on memory performances depending on the memory system involved. The present study investigated in Japanese quail the relationships between emotionality and two forms of memory, spatial-memory and cue-based memory. We showed that birds with a high emotionality trait (E+), compared with birds with a low emotionality trait (E-), reached slowly but more accurately the spatial location of a rewarded cup in an arena that contains 8 identical cups. Then a second cohort of E + and E-quails was trained to solve a dual spatial/cued task in which they could use either their spatial or cue-based memory. Whereas E + birds predominantly solved the task using their spatial memory, E-birds preferentially used their cue-based memory. These findings demonstrate that a trait for a high emotionality, can influence spatial memory performances but also contributes to favor the selection of this form of memory.
ano.nymous@ccsd.cnrs.fr.invalid (Flore Lormant) 26 May 2020
https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-02621765v1
-
[hal-01574925] Yolk hormones influence in ovo chemosensory learning, growth, and feeding behavior in domestic chicks
In this study, we assessed whether prenatal exposure to elevated yolk steroid hormones can influence in ovo chemosensory learning and the behavior of domestic chicks. We simulated a maternal environmental challenge by experimentally enhancing yolk progesterone, testosterone, and estradiol concentrations in hen eggs prior to incubation. The embryos from these hormones-treated eggs (HO) as well as sham embryos (O) that had received the vehicle-only were exposed to the odor of fish oil (menhaden) between embryonic Days 11 and 20. An additional group of control embryos (C) was not exposed to the odor. All chicks were tested following hatching for their feeding preferences between foods that were or were not odorized with the menhaden odor. In the 3-min choice tests, the behavior of O chicks differed significantly according to the type of food whereas C and HO chicks showed no preference between odorized and non-odorized food. Our result suggests weaker response in HO chicks. In addition, HO chicks showed impaired growth and reduced intake of an unfamiliar food on the 24-h time scale compared to controls. Our data suggest that embryonic exposure to increased yolk hormone levels can alter growth, chemosensory learning, and the development of feeding behaviors.
ano.nymous@ccsd.cnrs.fr.invalid (Aline Bertin) 16 Aug 2017
https://hal.science/hal-01574925v1
