Androgen receptor immunolocalization in brains of courting and brooding male and female ring doves (Streptopelia risoria)

Nuclear androgen receptors (ARs) were localized immunocytochemically in the brains of courting and brooding male and female ring doves (Streptopelia risoria). AR immunoreactivity (AR-ir) in courting birds was localized in cell nuclei in the telencephalon, diencephalon, and mesencephalon. In the anterior hypothalamus, high density of AR-ir was concentrated in several nuclei including the nucleus lateralis hypothalami, nucleus periventricularis magnocellularis, nucleus preopticus anterior, nucleus preopticus medialis, and nucleus preopticus paraventricularis magnocellularis. In the posterior hypothalamus, areas showing high density of AR-ir included the nucleus lateralis hypothalami posterioris, nucleus medialis hypothalami posterior, nucleus ectomamillaris, nucleus mamillaris lateralis, and nucleus tuberis. No sex differences in the density or localization of AR-ir were observed. Compared to brains from courting birds, AR-ir density was either extremely low or absent in most brain regions of brooding birds. It is concluded that in the dove, central ARs are closely associated with the sexual stages of the reproductive cycle.