Androgen increases protein synthesis within the avian brain vocal control system.

Amino acid autoradiography combined with hormonal manipulation shows that increased rates of protein synthesis in the brain vocal control areas precede the induction of song by androgen in female song birds. These biochemical and behavioral responses are androgen specific. The method also reveals that the vocal control as well as some other brain areas maintain higher rates of protein synthesis than does the surrounding tissue without exogenous androgen.