It is already known that parvalbumin (PV) neurons have their number modified in face of social, multisensory and cognitive stimuli, both in mammals and birds. However, nothing is known about its plasticity in long-distance migratory shorebirds during wintering period. Here we investigated in four distinct temporal windows of the wintering period, the plasticity of PV neurons of two brain areas of the spotted sandpiper (Actitis macularius) which includes in its migratory journey multiple stopovers for feeding and resting. We used PV as a marker of a subpopulation of inhibitory neurons and count them in the hippocampal formation (HF) and magnocellular nucleus of tectal isthmus (IMC). Based on previous evidence that HF is involved in learning and memory and social interaction, and IMC is essential for control of head and neck and eyes movements, we tested the hypothesis that PV neurons would increase in HF and remain unchanged in IMC. For this, we used the optical fractionator to estimate cell number. Brains were processed for PV immunostaining, followed by estimates of the number of PV neurons of the areas of interest. As compared with migratory rest 1, PV neurons estimates showed significant increase in the hippocampal formation of premigration group. We suggest that parvalbuminergic neurons proliferation is part of the adaptive changes of the hippocampal circuits involved with the migratory process back to the reproductive niches in north hemisphere.
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