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Published January 1, 2013 | public
Journal Article

Transgenic quail as a model for research in the avian nervous system: A comparative study of the auditory brainstem

Abstract

Research performed on transgenic animals has led to numerous advances in biological research. However, using traditional retroviral methods to generate transgenic avian research models has proved problematic. As a result, experiments aimed at genetic manipulations on birds have remained difficult for this popular research tool. Recently, lentiviral methods have allowed the production of transgenic birds, including a transgenic Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) line showing neuronal specificity and stable expression of enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) across generations (termed here GFP quail). To test whether the GFP quail may serve as a viable alternative to the popular chicken model system, with the additional benefit of genetic manipulation, we compared the development, organization, structure, and function of a specific neuronal circuit in chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) with that of the GFP quail. This study focuses on a well-defined avian brain region, the principal nuclei of the sound localization circuit in the auditory brainstem, nucleus magnocellularis (NM), and nucleus laminaris (NL). Our results demonstrate that structural and functional properties of NM and NL neurons in the GFP quail, as well as their dynamic properties in response to changes in the environment, are nearly identical to those in chickens. These similarities demonstrate that the GFP quail, as well as other transgenic quail lines, can serve as an attractive avian model system, with the advantage of being able to build on the wealth of information already available from the chicken.

Additional Information

© 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Received April 25, 2012; Revised June 26, 2012; Accepted July 6, 2012. Article first published online: 22 Nov. 2012. Grant sponsor: National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, U.S. Public Health Service; Grant numbers: R01 DC03829 and Research Core Center DC04661; Grant sponsor: National Center for Research Resources, National Institutes of Health; Grant number: R21HD047347-01; Grant sponsor: Center of Excellence in Genomic Science, National Institutes of Health; Grant number: P50 HG004071; Grant sponsor: National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research; Grant number: FaceBase U01 DE020063. We thank Dale Cunningham for assistance with the embryonic tissue preparation and sectioning, Glen MacDonald for help with microscopy, and Andrés Barría for use of equipment. We also thank Mark Bothwell, Melissa Strong, and the anonymous reviewers for comments on the manuscript. Role of Authors: All authors had full access to all the data in the study and take responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis. Study concept and design: A.H.S., J.T.S., L.S., K.M.T., Y.W., D.T.K., E.W.R., R.L. Acquisition of data: A.H.S., J.T.S., L.S., K.M.T., Y.W., D.T.K., G.P., D.H. Analysis and interpretation of data: A.H.S., J.T.S., L.S., K.M.T., Y.W., D.T.K., G.P., D.H., R.L., E.W.R. Drafting of the manuscript: A.H.S., J.T.S., L.S., K.M.T., Y.W., E.W.R. Comments on the manuscript: D.H., R.L. Production of transgenic quail: G.P., D.H., S.E.F., R.L. Obtained funding: E.W.R., R.L., S.E.F.

Additional details

Created:
August 22, 2023
Modified:
October 20, 2023