摘要
Sensory plasticity related to reproductive state, hormonal profiles, and experience is widespread among vertebrates, including humans [1Hau M. Perfito N. Moore I.T. Timing of breeding in tropical birds: Mechanisms and evolutionary implications.Ornitol. Neotrop. 2008; 19: 39-59Google Scholar, 2Migaud H. Davie A. Taylor J.F. Current knowledge on the photoneuroendocrine regulation of reproduction in temperate fish species.J. Fish Biol. 2010; 76: 27-68Crossref PubMed Scopus (198) Google Scholar, 3Nelson R.J. An Introduction to Behavioral Endocrinology.Fourth Edition. Sinauer Associates, Sunderland, MA, USA2011Google Scholar, 4Miranda J.A. Liu R.C. Dissecting natural sensory plasticity: hormones and experience in a maternal context.Hear. Res. 2009; 252: 21-28Crossref PubMed Scopus (38) Google Scholar, 5Walpurger V. Pietrowsky R. Kirschbaum C. Wolf O.T. Effects of the menstrual cycle on auditory event-related potentials.Horm. Behav. 2004; 46: 600-606Crossref PubMed Scopus (81) Google Scholar]. Improvements in audio-vocal coupling that heighten the detection of conspecifics are part of the reproductive strategy of many nonmammalian vertebrates [6Ryan M.J. Perrill S.A. Wilczynski W. Auditory tuning and call frequency predict population-based mating preferences in the cricket frog, Acris crepitans.Am. Nat. 1992; 139: 1370-1383Crossref Scopus (115) Google Scholar, 7Sisneros J.A. Bass A.H. Seasonal plasticity of peripheral auditory frequency sensitivity.J. Neurosci. 2003; 23: 1049-1058PubMed Google Scholar]. Although seasonal changes in hearing are known [7Sisneros J.A. Bass A.H. Seasonal plasticity of peripheral auditory frequency sensitivity.J. Neurosci. 2003; 23: 1049-1058PubMed Google Scholar, 8Hillery C.M. Seasonality of two midbrain auditory responses in the treefrog, Hyla chrysoscelis.Copeia. 1984; 1984: 844-852Crossref Google Scholar, 9Walkowiak W. The coding of auditory signals in the torus semicircularis of the fire-bellied toad and the grass frog: Responses to simple stimuli and to conspecific calls.J. Comp. Physiol. A Neuroethol. Sens. Neural Behav. Physiol. 1980; 138: 131-148Crossref Scopus (87) Google Scholar, 10Miranda J.A. Wilczynski W. Female reproductive state influences the auditory midbrain response.J. Comp. Physiol. A Neuroethol. Sens. Neural Behav. Physiol. 2009; 195: 341-349Crossref PubMed Scopus (44) Google Scholar, 11Gall M.D. Salameh T.S. Lucas J.R. Songbird frequency selectivity and temporal resolution vary with sex and season.Proc. Biol. Sci. 2013; 280: 20122296Crossref PubMed Scopus (29) Google Scholar], molecular mechanisms determining this form of adult sensory plasticity remain elusive. Among both nonmammals [12Fettiplace R. Fuchs P.A. Mechanisms of hair cell tuning.Annu. Rev. Physiol. 1999; 61: 809-834Crossref PubMed Scopus (309) Google Scholar] and mammals [13Kros C.J. Ruppersberg J.P. Rüsch A. Expression of a potassium current in inner hair cells during development of hearing in mice.Nature. 1998; 394: 281-284Crossref PubMed Scopus (310) Google Scholar, 14Wersinger E. McLean W.J. Fuchs P.A. Pyott S.J. BK channels mediate cholinergic inhibition of high frequency cochlear hair cells.PLoS ONE. 2010; 5: e13836Crossref PubMed Scopus (54) Google Scholar], large-conductance, calcium-activated potassium (BK) channels underlie a primary outward current having a predominant influence on frequency tuning in auditory hair cells [12Fettiplace R. Fuchs P.A. Mechanisms of hair cell tuning.Annu. Rev. Physiol. 1999; 61: 809-834Crossref PubMed Scopus (309) Google Scholar]. We now report an example from fish showing that increased BK channel abundance can improve an individual's ability to hear vocalizations during the breeding season. Pharmacological manipulations targeting BK channels, together with measures of BK transcript abundance, can explain the seasonal enhancement of auditory hair cell sensitivity to the frequency content of calls. Plasticity in ion channel expression is a simple, evolutionarily labile solution for sculpting sensory bandwidth to maximize the detection of conspecific signals during reproductive cycles.