Rock Dove HPG During Parental Care

The aim of this study was to provide a comprehensive characterization of the sex-specific transcriptomic changes within the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis during the parental care stage in male and female rock doves (Columba livia). The HPG axis plays a critical role in regulating sexual behavior and reproductive functions, yet the distinct molecular mechanisms underlying parental care in both sexes remain poorly understood. Rock doves offer a unique model for studying these processes due to their socially monogamous behavior and bi-parental care, wherein both males and females participate in external egg incubation and the production of crop milk, a nutrient-rich secretion analogous to mammalian lactation. This dual participation in parental roles controls for typical sex-specific variables, such as female-only gestation and lactation, thus enabling more precise inter- and intra-sexual comparisons. Previous research has suggested significant transcriptional changes within the HPG axis in response to reproductive and parental behaviors. However, this study provides the most complete dataset to date, mapping sex-specific gene expression changes throughout the HPG axis during parental care. These data will highlight key transcriptional shifts that are temporally coordinated with the anticipation and execution of parental duties, shedding light on the molecular underpinnings of parental investment in both male and female vertebrates.