Virginie Canoine

Postdoctoral Fellow

Research Interests:
My main research interest is the hormonal regulation of aggressive behavior in birds, which might differ between species, individuals, context, seasons and environments. In many bird species males establish a territory to defend resources such as food or nesting sites in order to increase survival and/or reproductive success. In bird species breeding in temperate zones aggressive and reproductive behaviors are regulated by seasonally fluctuating androgens produced in the gonads. However tropical bird species express aggressive behavior throughout the year although plasma levels of androgen remain basal and do not vary seasonally. It might be that tropical bird species have evolved a mechanism controlling aggressive behavior that differs from those of temperate zone birds. This issue has been investigated in the Spotted Antbird. This bird species breeds seasonally and shows clear seasonal cycles in gonadal size and LH production. Spotted Antbirds are aggressive year round, although plasma levels of T are basal or non-detectable most time of the year. Hau et al. (2000) have shown that in the spotted Antbird androgens are involved in the control of aggressive behavior in a reproductive context. The focus of my work is to study whether in Spotted Antbirds the control mechanism of aggressive behavior differs seasonally (as in temperate zone birds). Moreover we are asking if aggressive behavior is regulated by androgens (or other hormones) that derive from other sources than the gonads. Recent studies have shown that the avian brain contains almost all enzymes necessary to produce sex steroids (link to Barney Schlinger). Using molecular techniques I am studying the activity and expression of steroidogenic enzymes in the brain, adrenal and gonads of both male and female spotted Antbirds in relation to reproductive condition and seasons. In the present work I am investigating in the neuroendocrine control mechanisms of aggressive behavior in a tropical bird, the Spotted Antbird in collaboration with Barney Schlinger.

E-mail: vcanoine@physci.ucla.edu

Education:
M.Sc., Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich (Biology)
ãActivational effects of gonadal steroids on the regulation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal-axis on rats." Max-Planck-Institute for Psychiatry, Munich, Germany, Advisor: Dr. O.F.X. Almeida.

Ph.D., Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich (Biology)
ãSeasonal differences in the endocrine control of aggressive behaviour in captive and freeliving stonechats.ä Max-Planck-Research-Centre for Ornithology, Andechs, Germany, Supervisor: Prof. E. Gwinner.

Publications:
Almeida, O. F. X., Canoine, V., Ali, S., Holsboer, F., Patchev, V.K. (1997). Activational Effects of Gonadal Steroids on Hypothalamo-Pituitary-Adrenal Regulation in the Rat Disclosed by Response to Dexamethasone Suppression. Journal of Neuroendocrinology 9:129-134.

*Canoine, V. and Gwinner, E. (2002). Seasonal differences in the hormonal control of territorial aggression in free living European Stonechats. Hormones and Behavior 41:1-8.

Canoine, V., Hayden T. J., Rowe, K. and Goymann, W. (2002). The maximal stress response of European stonechats depends on the type of stressor. Behaviour 139: 1303-1312.

*reported in Max-Planck Forschung, „Schwarzkehlchen Im Dummy-test “ 2/2002, p.50-53.

Published Abstracts:
Raess M., Rödl, T., Canoine, V.,Van’t Hof, T. (1998). Is singing in wintering common stonechats (Saxicola torquata) associated with territory density? In : Adams, N.J. and R.H. Slotow (eds). Proc. XXII Int. Ornithol. Congr., Durban. Ostrich 69: 265.

Canoine V., Van’t Hof, T., Gwinner E. (2000). Stress-response in stonechats (Saxicola torquata): Differences between the sexes and seasons. Trabajos del Instituto Cajal, 77.

Canoine, V. and Gwinner, E. (2002). Seasonality in androgenic control of aggressive behavior in captive European Stonechats (Saxicola torquata). Hormones and Behavior 41: 446.

Fusani, F., Schultz, J.D., Canoine, V., Donaldson, Z., Reineman, D.R., Schlinger, B.A. (2002). Androgen control of a complex avian courtship behavior. Program No. 781.4. 2002 Abstract Viewer/Itinerary Planner. Washington, DC: Society for Neuroscience. CD-ROM.

Canoine, V., Fusani, L., Schlinger, B.A. and Hau, M. (2003). Expression of androgen receptor, estrogen receptor, and aromatase in the brain of a tropical bird, the Spotted Antbird: Mapping and seasonal comparison. Proceedings of the 2 nd International Meeting on Steroids and Nervous system, Torino, Italy, 202.