Constant light and pinealectomy disrupt daily rhythm in song production and negatively impact reproductive performance in zebra finches

Mar 5, 2024Photochemical & photobiological sciences : Official journal of the European Photochemistry Association and the European Society for Photobiology

Constant light and removal of the pineal gland disturb daily singing patterns and reduce breeding success in zebra finches

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Abstract

A significant increase in body mass and testis size was observed in male zebra finches exposed to constant light.

Testis size decreased under constant darkness conditions.
Singing patterns were synchronized with the light phase under a 12L:12D schedule but became arrhythmic under constant light.
Pinealectomy disrupted both activity and singing rhythms, but did not alter the overall features of the songs.
Pinealectomized pairs showed a notable reduction in nest-building and breeding efforts.
The findings indicate a potential role of the circadian clock in regulating singing and reproductive behaviors in zebra finches.

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We assessed the circadian clock control of singing and reproductive performance in zebra finches. Experiment 1 examined changes in body mass, testis size, and plasma corticosterone and testosterone levels in male birds exposed to constant light (LL, 100 lx) and constant darkness (DD, 0.5 lx), with controls on 12L:12D (L = 100 lx, D = 0.5 lx). There was a significant increase in the body mass and testis size under LL and a decrease in testis size under the DD. Using a similar design, experiment 2 assessed the persistence of the circadian rhythm in singing along with activity-rest pattern in cohort I birds that were entrained to 12L:12D and subsequently released in DD or LL, and in cohort II birds that were entrained to 12L:12D and following pinealectomy were released in DD. Both activity and singing patterns were synchronized with the light phase under 12L:12D, free-ran with a circadian period under DD, and were arrhythmic under the LL. There was an overall decreased and increased effect on singing under DD and LL, respectively, albeit with differences in various song parameters. The pinealectomy disrupted both activity and singing rhythms but did not affect singing or the overall song features. Pinealectomized bird pairs also exhibited a significant reduction in their nest-building and breeding efforts, resulting in a compromised reproductive performance. These results suggest a circadian clock control of singing and more importantly demonstrate a role of the pineal clock in breeding behaviors, leading to a compromised reproductive performance in diurnal zebra finches.

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Constant light and pinealectomy disrupt daily rhythm in song production and negatively impact reproductive performance in zebra finches

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