Testosterone modulates calling behavior in Japanese quail chicks

Abstract

Japanese quail chicks have various patterns of calling. The chicks of both sexes emit distress call at a high rate when they are socially isolated. Chronical subcutaneous implantation of testosterone (T) induced the chick crowing which has similar in acoustical structural characteristics to male adult crowing. The chick crowing which was induced by T appeared in a mixed manner with the distress call at high rate when isolated. After T implantation, the frequencies of the chick crowing gradually increased and the distress call disappeared. The chick crowing was induced as the result of androgenic action of T, and the chick crowing disappeared after removal of T. Implantation of a small amount of T directly into mesencephalon, also induced chick crowing after a short latency. The same dose of subcutaneous T implantation failed to induce the chick crowing. This study suggested that T acts on quail chick brain to transform the distress call into the chick crowing.