Seasonal differences in hypothalamic thyroid stimulating hormone β (TSHβ), gonadotropin-releasing hormone-I and deiodinase expression between migrant and resident subspecies of white-crowned sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys)

Across taxa, the seasonal transition between non-breeding and breeding states is controlled by localized thyroid hormone signalling in the deep brain via reciprocal switching of deiodinase enzyme expression from type 3 (DIO3) to type 2 (DIO2). This reciprocal switch is thought to be mediated by increasing thyroid stimulating hormone β (TSHβ) release from the pars tuberalis, which occurs in response to a change in photoperiod. Although well characterized in a handful of model organisms in controlled laboratory settings, this pathway remains largely unexplored in free-living animals under natural environmental conditions. In this comparative gene expression study, we investigated hypothalamic thyroid hormone signalling in two seasonally breeding subspecies of white-crowned sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys), across the entirety of their annual cycles. The migratory Gambel’s (Z. l. gambelii) and resident Nuttall’s (Z. l. nuttalii) subspecies differ in timing of reproduction, life history, and migratory strategies. Whilst DIO3 mRNA expression was elevated and DIO2 mRNA expression was reduced in the wintering period in both subspecies, DIO2 peaked in both subspecies prior to the onset of reproduction . However,although there was differential timing between subspecies in peak DIO2 expression. Intriguingly, seasonal modulation of TSHβ mRNA was only observed in migrants, where expression was elevated at the start of breeding, consistent with observations from other highly photoperiodic species. There was no correlation between TSHβ, DIO2 and gonadotropin-releasing hormone-I (GnRH-I) mRNA or reproductive metrics in residents. Based on these observed differences we discuss potential implications for our understanding of how changes in medial basal hypothalamic gene expression mediates initiation of seasonal reproduction.