1
|
Cordeiro N, Pochapski JA, Luna WS, Baltazar G, Schwarting RK, Andreatini R, Da Cunha C. Forty-kHz ultrasonic vocalizations of rat pups predict adult behavior in the elevated plus-maze behavior but not the effect of cocaine on 50-kHz ultrasonic vocalizations. Behav Brain Res 2024; 458:114759. [PMID: 37952685 PMCID: PMC10797528 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2023.114759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
Ultrasonic vocalizations (USV) are emitted by both young pups and adult rats to convey positive or negative emotional states. These USV manifestations are contingent on factors including developmental stage, situational requirements, and individual dispositions. Pups emit 40-kHz USV when separated from their mother and litter, which function to elicit maternal care. Conversely, adult rats can produce 50-kHz USV in response to stimuli that elicit reward-related states, including natural rewards, stimulant drugs, and reward-predictive stimuli. The present study aims to investigate whether pup 40-kHz USV can serve as predictors of behaviors related to positive or negative states in adult rats. Both male and female Wistar pups were initially tested on the 11th postnatal day and subsequently in adulthood. There was no significant difference in the number of 40-kHz ultrasonic vocalizations between male and female pups. However, cocaine elicited more 50-kHz USV and hyperactivity in adult females compared to males. Notably, cocaine increased the proportion of step and trill USV subtypes in both adult males and females. Interestingly, this effect of cocaine was stronger in females that were in the diestrus, compared to the estrus phase. In males, a significant positive correlation was found between pup 40-kHz USV and lower anxiety scores in adult male but not female rats tested on the elevated plus-maze test. Furthermore, no significant correlation was found between pup 40-kHz and adult 50-kHz USV in both males and females, whether in undrugged (saline) or in cocaine-treated rats. It is possible that the 40-kHz USV emitted by pups predicted reduced anxiety-like behavior only for male rats because they could elicit maternal care directed specifically to male pups. These findings suggest that 40-kHz USV can serve as an indicator of the emotional link between the rat mother and male pups. Indeed, this suggests that maternal care exerts a positive influence on the emotional state during adulthood.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nícolas Cordeiro
- Laboratório de Fisiologia e Farmacologia do Sistema Nervoso Central, Department of Pharmacology, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - José Augusto Pochapski
- Laboratório de Fisiologia e Farmacologia do Sistema Nervoso Central, Department of Pharmacology, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil; Department of Biochemistry, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - William Sanchez Luna
- Integrative Neurobiology Section, Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Gabriel Baltazar
- Department of Biochemistry, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Rainer K Schwarting
- Behavioral Neuroscience, Experimental and Biological Psychology, Marburg Center for Mind, Brain and Behavior (MCMBB), Philipps-University Marburg, 35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Roberto Andreatini
- Laboratório de Fisiologia e Farmacologia do Sistema Nervoso Central, Department of Pharmacology, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Claudio Da Cunha
- Laboratório de Fisiologia e Farmacologia do Sistema Nervoso Central, Department of Pharmacology, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil; Department of Biochemistry, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Jourjine N, Woolfolk ML, Sanguinetti-Scheck JI, Sabatini JE, McFadden S, Lindholm AK, Hoekstra HE. Two pup vocalization types are genetically and functionally separable in deer mice. Curr Biol 2023; 33:1237-1248.e4. [PMID: 36893759 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.02.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2022] [Revised: 02/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/10/2023]
Abstract
Vocalization is a widespread social behavior in vertebrates that can affect fitness in the wild. Although many vocal behaviors are highly conserved, heritable features of specific vocalization types can vary both within and between species, raising the questions of why and how some vocal behaviors evolve. Here, using new computational tools to automatically detect and cluster vocalizations into distinct acoustic categories, we compare pup isolation calls across neonatal development in eight taxa of deer mice (genus Peromyscus) and compare them with laboratory mice (C57BL6/J strain) and free-living, wild house mice (Mus musculus domesticus). Whereas both Peromyscus and Mus pups produce ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs), Peromyscus pups also produce a second call type with acoustic features, temporal rhythms, and developmental trajectories that are distinct from those of USVs. In deer mice, these lower frequency "cries" are predominantly emitted in postnatal days one through nine, whereas USVs are primarily made after day 9. Using playback assays, we show that cries result in a more rapid approach by Peromyscus mothers than USVs, suggesting a role for cries in eliciting parental care early in neonatal development. Using a genetic cross between two sister species of deer mice exhibiting large, innate differences in the acoustic structure of cries and USVs, we find that variation in vocalization rate, duration, and pitch displays different degrees of genetic dominance and that cry and USV features can be uncoupled in second-generation hybrids. Taken together, this work shows that vocal behavior can evolve quickly between closely related rodent species in which vocalization types, likely serving distinct functions in communication, are controlled by distinct genetic loci.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas Jourjine
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, Department of Organismic & Evolutionary Biology, Center for Brain Science, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 16 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Maya L Woolfolk
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, Department of Organismic & Evolutionary Biology, Center for Brain Science, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 16 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Juan I Sanguinetti-Scheck
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, Department of Organismic & Evolutionary Biology, Center for Brain Science, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 16 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - John E Sabatini
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, Department of Organismic & Evolutionary Biology, Center for Brain Science, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 16 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Sade McFadden
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, Department of Organismic & Evolutionary Biology, Center for Brain Science, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 16 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Anna K Lindholm
- Department of Evolutionary Biology & Environmental Studies, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse, 190 8057 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Hopi E Hoekstra
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, Department of Organismic & Evolutionary Biology, Center for Brain Science, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 16 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
The bed nucleus of the stria terminalis in threat detection: task choice and rodent experience. Emerg Top Life Sci 2022; 6:457-466. [PMID: 36416376 PMCID: PMC9788396 DOI: 10.1042/etls20220002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Revised: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Behavioural reactivity to potential threat is used to experimentally refine models of anxiety symptoms in rodents. We present a short review of the literature tying the most commonly used tasks to model anxiety symptoms to functional recruitment of bed nucleus of the stria terminalis circuits (BNST). Using a review of studies that investigated the role of the BNST in anxiety-like behaviour in rodents, we flag the certain challenges for the field. These stem from inconsistent methods of reporting the neuroanatomical BNST subregions and the interpretations of specific behaviour across a wide variety of tasks as 'anxiety-like'. Finally, to assist in interpretation of the findings, we discuss the potential interactions between typically used 'anxiety' tasks of innate behaviour that are potentially modulated by the social and individual experience of the animal.
Collapse
|
4
|
|
5
|
Wöhr M, Kisko TM, Schwarting RK. Social Behavior and Ultrasonic Vocalizations in a Genetic Rat Model Haploinsufficient for the Cross-Disorder Risk Gene Cacna1c. Brain Sci 2021; 11:brainsci11060724. [PMID: 34072335 PMCID: PMC8229447 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11060724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Revised: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The top-ranked cross-disorder risk gene CACNA1C is strongly associated with multiple neuropsychiatric dysfunctions. In a recent series of studies, we applied a genomically informed approach and contributed extensively to the behavioral characterization of a genetic rat model haploinsufficient for the cross-disorder risk gene Cacna1c. Because deficits in processing social signals are associated with reduced social functioning as commonly seen in neuropsychiatric disorders, we focused on socio-affective communication through 22-kHz and 50-kHz ultrasonic vocalizations (USV). Specifically, we applied a reciprocal approach for studying socio-affective communication in sender and receiver by including rough-and-tumble play and playback of 22-kHz and 50-kHz USV. Here, we review the findings obtained in this recent series of studies and link them to the key features of 50-kHz USV emission during rough-and-tumble play and social approach behavior evoked by playback of 22-kHz and 50-kHz USV. We conclude that Cacna1c haploinsufficiency in rats leads to robust deficits in socio-affective communication through 22-kHz and 50-kHz USV and associated alterations in social behavior, such as rough-and-tumble play behavior.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Markus Wöhr
- Social and Affective Neuroscience Research Group, Laboratory of Biological Psychology, Research Unit Brain and Cognition, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, KU Leuven, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Faculty of Psychology, Experimental and Biological Psychology, Behavioral Neuroscience, Philipps-University of Marburg, D-35032 Marburg, Germany; (T.M.K.); (R.K.W.S.)
- Center for Mind, Brain, and Behavior, Philipps-University of Marburg, D-35032 Marburg, Germany
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +32-16-19-45-57
| | - Theresa M. Kisko
- Faculty of Psychology, Experimental and Biological Psychology, Behavioral Neuroscience, Philipps-University of Marburg, D-35032 Marburg, Germany; (T.M.K.); (R.K.W.S.)
- Center for Mind, Brain, and Behavior, Philipps-University of Marburg, D-35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Rainer K.W. Schwarting
- Faculty of Psychology, Experimental and Biological Psychology, Behavioral Neuroscience, Philipps-University of Marburg, D-35032 Marburg, Germany; (T.M.K.); (R.K.W.S.)
- Center for Mind, Brain, and Behavior, Philipps-University of Marburg, D-35032 Marburg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Lesch R, Schwaha T, Orozco A, Shilling M, Brunelli S, Hofer M, Bowling DL, Zimmerberg B, Fitch WT. Selection on vocal output affects laryngeal morphology in rats. J Anat 2021; 238:1179-1190. [PMID: 33480050 PMCID: PMC8053590 DOI: 10.1111/joa.13366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2020] [Revised: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 11/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Although laryngeal morphology often reflects adaptations for vocalization, the structural consequences of selection for particular aspects of vocal behavior remain poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the effects of increased ultrasonic calling in pups on the adult larynx morphology in selectively bred rat lines. Laryngeal morphology was assessed using multiple techniques: mineralized cartilage volumes were compared in 3D-models derived from microCT scans, internal structure was compared using clearing and staining procedures combined with microscopy, cellular structure was compared using histology and microscopy, and element composition was assessed with scanning energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Our results show that adult rats from lines bred to produce ultrasonic calls at higher rates as pups have shorter vocal folds and a more mineralized thyroid cartilage compared to rats bred to produce ultrasonic calls at lower rates. The change in vocal fold length appears to account for differences in low-frequency calls in these two rat lines. We suggest that the observed increases in mineralization of the thyroid cartilage in the high-ultrasound lineage provide increased reinforcement of the laryngeal structure during ultrasonic call production. Our findings therefore demonstrate an effect of selection for vocal behavior on laryngeal morphology, with acoustic consequences.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Raffaela Lesch
- Department of Behavioral and Cognitive BiologyUniversity of ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Thomas Schwaha
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Integrative ZoologyUniversity of ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Andrea Orozco
- Department of PsychologyWilliams CollegeWilliamstownMAUSA
| | | | - Susan Brunelli
- Department of PsychiatryColumbia UniversityNew YorkNYUSA
| | - Myron Hofer
- Department of PsychiatryColumbia UniversityNew YorkNYUSA
| | - Daniel L. Bowling
- Department of Behavioral and Cognitive BiologyUniversity of ViennaViennaAustria
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral SciencesStanford University School of MedicineStanfordCAUSA
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
7
|
Lenell C, Broadfoot CK, Schaen-Heacock NE, Ciucci MR. Biological and Acoustic Sex Differences in Rat Ultrasonic Vocalization. Brain Sci 2021; 11:459. [PMID: 33916537 PMCID: PMC8067311 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11040459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2021] [Revised: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The rat model is a useful tool for understanding peripheral and central mechanisms of laryngeal biology. Rats produce ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) that have communicative intent and are altered by experimental conditions such as social environment, stress, diet, drugs, age, and neurological diseases, validating the rat model's utility for studying communication and related deficits. Sex differences are apparent in both the rat larynx and USV acoustics and are differentially affected by experimental conditions. Therefore, the purpose of this review paper is to highlight the known sex differences in rat USV production, acoustics, and laryngeal biology detailed in the literature across the lifespan.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Charles Lenell
- Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin Madison, Madison, WI 53792, USA; (C.L.); (C.K.B.); (N.E.S.-H.)
- Communicative Sciences and Disorders, New York University, New York, NY 10001, USA
| | - Courtney K. Broadfoot
- Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin Madison, Madison, WI 53792, USA; (C.L.); (C.K.B.); (N.E.S.-H.)
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Wisconsin Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Nicole E. Schaen-Heacock
- Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin Madison, Madison, WI 53792, USA; (C.L.); (C.K.B.); (N.E.S.-H.)
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Wisconsin Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Michelle R. Ciucci
- Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin Madison, Madison, WI 53792, USA; (C.L.); (C.K.B.); (N.E.S.-H.)
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Wisconsin Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Harmon-Jones SK, Cowan CS, Shnier N, Richardson R. Is good memory always a good thing? An early offset of infantile amnesia predicts anxiety-like behavior throughout development in rats. Behav Res Ther 2020; 135:103763. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brat.2020.103763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2020] [Revised: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 10/28/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
|
9
|
Lesch R, Orozco A, Shilling M, Zimmerberg B, Fitch WT. Selection on ultrasonic call rate in neonatal rats affects low frequency, but not ultrasonic, vocalizations in adults. Ethology 2020; 126:1007-1018. [PMID: 39027033 PMCID: PMC7616252 DOI: 10.1111/eth.13075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2020] [Accepted: 05/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
In this experiment, we studied a rodent model selected over 57 generations for high or low rates of ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) during maternal separation as pups. We investigated the influence of this breeding on the adult animals' subsequent vocal output, comparing acoustic variables across developmental stages. We hypothesized that selection on pup USV rate would impact adult USV production without affecting lower frequency calls. Contrary to this hypothesis, we found neither number of USV calls or other acoustic variables to differ among selected adult lines. Instead, we found that pup USV selection mainly affected adults' low-frequency (human-audible) calls. Furthermore, low-frequency vocalizations did not fully fit a predicted correlation between body weight and fundamental frequency: high line males, although the heaviest on average, did not produce the lowest fundamental frequencies. Our findings suggest that selection for early ultrasonic vocal behaviour pleiotropically results in changes in anatomical production mechanisms and/or neural control affecting low-frequency calls.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Raffaela Lesch
- Department of Behavioral and Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Andrea Orozco
- Department of Psychology, Williams College, Williamstown, MA, USA
| | | | - Betty Zimmerberg
- Department of Psychology, Williams College, Williamstown, MA, USA
| | - W. Tecumseh Fitch
- Department of Behavioral and Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Acoustic communication in four species of subgenus Alexandromys (Rodentia, Cricetidae). RUSSIAN JOURNAL OF THERIOLOGY 2020. [DOI: 10.15298/rusjtheriol.19.1.02] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
|
11
|
Cavaliere DR, Maisonnette S, Krahe TE, Landeira-Fernandez J, Cruz APM. High- and Low-conditioned Behavioral effects of midazolam in Carioca high- and low-conditioned freezing rats in an ethologically based test. Neurosci Lett 2020; 715:134632. [PMID: 31790719 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2019.134632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2019] [Revised: 11/12/2019] [Accepted: 11/13/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
The selective breeding of laboratory rodents with different anxiety-related traits is the subject of growing interest. The present study compared the effects of the benzodiazepine midazolam in the elevated plus maze (EPM) test of anxiety in two lines of Wistar rats that were selectively bred in our laboratory for either high or low anxiety-like traits based on a contextual freezing conditioning paradigm. After phenotyping anxiety-like traits (i.e., conditioned freezing behavior), Carioca High-Freezing [CHF], Carioca Low-Freezing [CLF]) and control rats were intraperitoneally injected (1.0 ml/kg) with .9 % saline or midazolam (.25, .5, .75, and 1.0 mg/kg) and subjected to the EPM 30 min later. After the saline injection, the CHF and CLF groups exhibited lower and higher open-arm exploration in the EPM, respectively, compared with control rats. These results indicate that anxiety-related traits previously selected from an associative learning paradigm can also be phenotypically expressed in an ethologically based animal model of anxiety. All midazolam doses significantly increased open-arm exploration in both CHF and control animals, but this anxiolytic-like effect in CLF rats was only observed at the lowest dose tested (.25 mg/kg). The present findings indicate that these two breeding lines of rats are a useful model for studying anxiety, and the anxiolytic effect of midazolam depends on genetic variability that is associated with basal reactions to threatening situations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Silvia Maisonnette
- Department of Psychology, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Thomas E Krahe
- Department of Psychology, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - J Landeira-Fernandez
- Department of Psychology, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
| | - Antonio Pedro Mello Cruz
- Laboratory of Psychobiology and Neuroscience, Institute of Psychology, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Federal District, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Budylin T, Guariglia SR, Duran LI, Behring BM, Shaikh Z, Neuwirth LS, Banerjee P. Ultrasonic vocalization sex differences in 5-HT-R deficient mouse pups: Predictive phenotypes associated with later-life anxiety-like behaviors. Behav Brain Res 2019; 373:112062. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2019.112062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2019] [Revised: 06/24/2019] [Accepted: 06/25/2019] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
|
13
|
Schwarting RK. Ultrasonic vocalization in female rats: A comparison among three outbred stocks from pups to adults. Physiol Behav 2018; 196:59-66. [DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2018.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2018] [Revised: 08/22/2018] [Accepted: 08/22/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
|
14
|
Animals, anxiety, and anxiety disorders: How to measure anxiety in rodents and why. Behav Brain Res 2018; 352:81-93. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2017.10.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2017] [Revised: 10/12/2017] [Accepted: 10/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
|
15
|
Schwarting RK. Ultrasonic vocalization in juvenile and adult male rats: A comparison among stocks. Physiol Behav 2018; 191:1-11. [DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2018.03.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2017] [Revised: 03/20/2018] [Accepted: 03/20/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
|
16
|
Schwarting RKW, Wöhr M. Isolation-induced ultrasonic vocalizations in pups: A comparison between Long-Evans, Sprague-Dawley, and Wistar rats. Dev Psychobiol 2018; 60:534-543. [DOI: 10.1002/dev.21738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2018] [Accepted: 02/22/2018] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Rainer K. W. Schwarting
- Behavioral Neuroscience, Experimental and Biological Psychology; Philipps-University of Marburg; Marburg Germany
- Marburg Center for Mind, Brain, and Behavior (MCMBB); Marburg Germany
| | - Markus Wöhr
- Behavioral Neuroscience, Experimental and Biological Psychology; Philipps-University of Marburg; Marburg Germany
- Marburg Center for Mind, Brain, and Behavior (MCMBB); Marburg Germany
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Bukhari SHF, Clark OE, Williamson LL. Maternal high fructose diet and neonatal immune challenge alter offspring anxiety-like behavior and inflammation across the lifespan. Life Sci 2018; 197:114-121. [DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2018.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2017] [Revised: 02/03/2018] [Accepted: 02/07/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
|
18
|
Ultrasonic communication in rats: appetitive 50-kHz ultrasonic vocalizations as social contact calls. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-017-2427-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
|
19
|
Claypoole LD, Zimmerberg B, Williamson LL. Neonatal lipopolysaccharide treatment alters hippocampal neuroinflammation, microglia morphology and anxiety-like behavior in rats selectively bred for an infantile trait. Brain Behav Immun 2017; 59:135-146. [PMID: 27591170 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2016.08.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2016] [Revised: 08/22/2016] [Accepted: 08/29/2016] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Disruptions in homeostasis, such as the induction of inflammation, occurring during the neonatal period of development often produce changes in the brain, physiology, and behavior that persist through the life span. This study investigated the potential effects that an immune challenge delivered during neonatal development would have on anxiety behavior and stress reactivity later in life within a selectively-bred strain of rat. The rats have been bred for multiple generations to display either high or low anxiety-like phenotypic behavior. On postnatal day (P)3 and P5, male and female neonates were injected with saline or lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Brains were collected from a subset of neonates following injections. At P7, one male and one female per litter were tested for ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs). In adulthood, remaining litter mates were tested on the open field apparatus and the elevated zero maze (EZM) or on the EZM following 3days of acute stress. Overall, we saw differences between the High and Low lines in neonatal anxiety-like behavior (USVs), neonatal peripheral immune response, adult anxiety-like behavior on the EZM, and adult anxiety-like behavior after stress induction, such that the High line rats display significantly more anxiety-like behavior than the Low line. Furthermore, we observed an effect of neonatal LPS during the neonatal peripheral immune response (e.g., increased inflammatory cytokine expression) and adult anxiety-like behavior on the EZM. We also observed an effect of sex within the anxiety-like behavior of LPS-treated adults exposed to stress paradigm. The combined results shed light on the relationships between neural development, early-life inflammation and anxiety throughout the lifespan.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lauren D Claypoole
- Psychology Department, Williams College, Williamstown, MA 01267, United States
| | - Betty Zimmerberg
- Psychology Department, Williams College, Williamstown, MA 01267, United States
| | - Lauren L Williamson
- Psychology Department, Williams College, Williamstown, MA 01267, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Schmidt M, Lapert F, Brandwein C, Deuschle M, Kasperk C, Grimsley JM, Gass P. Prenatal stress changes courtship vocalizations and bone mineral density in mice. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2017; 75:203-212. [PMID: 27838514 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2016.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2016] [Revised: 11/03/2016] [Accepted: 11/03/2016] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Stress during the prenatal period has various effects on social and sexual behavior in both human and animal offspring. The present study examines the effects of chronic restraint stress in the second vs third trimester in pregnancy and glucocorticoid receptor (GR) heterozygous mutation on C57BL/6N male offspring's vocal courtship behavior in adulthood by applying a novel analyzing method. Finally, corticosterone and testosterone levels as well as bone mineral density were measured. Prenatal stress in the third, but not in the second trimester caused a significant qualitative change in males' courtship vocalizations, independent of their GR genotype. Bone mineral density was decreased also by prenatal stress exclusively in the third trimester in GR mutant and wildtype mice and - in contrast to corticosterone and testosterone - highly correlated with courtship vocalizations. In Gr+/- males corticosterone serum levels were significantly increased in animals that had experienced prenatal stress in the third trimester. Testosterone serum levels were overall increased in Gr+/- males in comparison to wildtypes as a tendency - whereas prenatal stress had no influence. Prenatal stress alters adult males' courtship vocalizations exclusively when applied in the third trimester, with closely related changes in bone mineral density. Bone mineral density seems to reflect best the complex neuroendocrine mechanisms underlying the production of courtship vocalizations. Besides, we demonstrated for the first time elevated basal corticosterone levels in Gr+/- males after prenatal stress which suggests that the Gr+/- mouse model of depression might also serve as a model of prenatal stress in male offspring.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michaela Schmidt
- Central Institute of Mental Health Mannheim (ZI), Medical Faculty of Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, J5, D-68159 Mannheim, Germany.
| | - Florian Lapert
- Central Institute of Mental Health Mannheim (ZI), Medical Faculty of Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, J5, D-68159 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Christiane Brandwein
- Central Institute of Mental Health Mannheim (ZI), Medical Faculty of Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, J5, D-68159 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Michael Deuschle
- Central Institute of Mental Health Mannheim (ZI), Medical Faculty of Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, J5, D-68159 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Christian Kasperk
- Department of Medicine I and Clinical Chemistry, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jasmine M Grimsley
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH 44272, USA
| | - Peter Gass
- Central Institute of Mental Health Mannheim (ZI), Medical Faculty of Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, J5, D-68159 Mannheim, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Chronic postnatal monoamine oxidase inhibition affects affiliative behavior in rat pupso. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2016; 153:60-68. [PMID: 27989747 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2016.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2016] [Revised: 12/12/2016] [Accepted: 12/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Monoamine neurotransmitters serotonin (5-HT), dopamine (DA), and noradrenaline (NA) act as important modulators of mammalian brain development and represent neurobiological substrates of affiliative behavior reflected in rat pups as a tendency to huddle or produce ultrasonic vocalizations (USV) when separated from the nest. Monoamines are metabolized through oxidative deamination catalyzed by the mitochondrial enzyme monoamine oxidase (MAO). In this study, we examined the consequences of postnatal MAO inhibition on affiliative behavior in rat pups. Pups received daily injections of either an irreversible non-selective MAO inhibitor tranylcypromine (TCP) or saline, from post-natal day (PND) 1 to PND 22. Quantitative and qualitative components of USV were analyzed on PNDs 10, 13 and 16 in order to determine the level of separation-induced anxiety and the modality of vocal communication. In comparison to control pups, TCP-treated pups displayed higher cortical 5-HT, DA and NA levels, higher peripheral 5-HT concentration, lower body mass throughout the pre-weaning period, higher isolation-induced drop in body temperature, and reduced total number of calls. Furthermore, they produced lower pitched calls of longer average duration without a preferable waveform. Our results demonstrate that chronic MAO inhibition by TCP primarily affects 5-HT concentrations, but also raises central catecholamine levels. They further indicate that disturbed monoaminergic homeostasis during early postnatal development leads to decreased weight-gain, compromised thermoregulation, and altered affiliative behavior in pre-weaning pups as reflected in reduced separation anxiety and inadequate vocal communication. Finally, they suggest a need for thorough examination of the potential effects of TCP and other monoamine inhibitors on the developing human brain.
Collapse
|
22
|
Ketcha Wanda GJM, Ngitedem SG, Njamen D. Botanicals for mood disorders with a focus on epilepsy. Epilepsy Behav 2015; 52:319-28. [PMID: 26409901 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2015.08.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2015] [Revised: 08/13/2015] [Accepted: 08/14/2015] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Mood disorders are among the major health problems that exist worldwide. They are highly prevalent in the general population and cause significant disturbance of life quality and social functioning of the affected persons. The two major classes of mood disorders are bipolar disorders and depression. The latter is assumed to be the most frequent psychiatric comorbidity in epilepsy. Studies published during the second half of the 20th century recognized that certain patients with epilepsy present a depressed mood. Synthesized pharmaceuticals have been in use for decades to treat both mood disorders and epilepsy, but despite their efficiency, their use is limited by numerous side effects. On the other hand, animal models have been developed to deeply study potential botanicals which have an effect on mood disorders. Studies to investigate the potential effects of medicinal plants acting on the nervous system and used to treat seizures and anxiety are increasingly growing. However, these studies discuss the two conditions separately without association. In this review, we present animal models of depression and investigative models (methods of assessing depression) of depression and anxiety in animals. Other classical test models for prediction of clinical antidepressant activity are presented. Finally, this review also highlights antidepressant activities of herbals focusing specially on depression-like behaviors associated with epilepsy. The pharmacological properties and active principles of cited medicinal plants are emphasized. This review, therefore, provides an overview of the work done on botanicals for mood disorders, potential mechanisms of action of botanicals, and the major compounds. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled "Botanicals for Epilepsy".
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Steve Guemnang Ngitedem
- Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaounde I, P.O. Box 812, Yaounde, Cameroon
| | - Dieudonné Njamen
- Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaounde I, P.O. Box 812, Yaounde, Cameroon
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Communal nesting exerts epigenetic influences on affective and social behaviors in rats selectively bred for an infantile trait. Physiol Behav 2014; 139:97-103. [PMID: 25446220 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2014.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2014] [Revised: 10/31/2014] [Accepted: 11/03/2014] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Communal nesting (CN) is a mouse model of early social enrichment during pregnancy and lactation. In this study, a rat model of CN was developed to determine if CN exerts an epigenetic effect in rats selectively bred for an infantile affective trait (high and low rates of ultrasonic distress calls). High and Low offspring from CN groups were compared to standard reared (SN) offspring on five measures of social and affective behavior at three critical ages. A differential effect of the CN paradigm on High and Low lines was seen in measures of anxiety and arousal, but not in measures of depression or social behavior. Neonatal CN subjects emitted fewer distress calls than SN subjects when separated from their dams, and the High line subjects were more affected by the CN procedure. As juveniles, CN subjects showed increased social behaviors in tests of juvenile parenting and play compared to SN subjects. In adulthood, CN differentially increased the activity of Low line subjects. All CN subjects displayed less anxiety behavior in an open field compared to SN subjects; High line subjects were more anxious than Lows. CN reduced immobility and increased attempts to escape on the Porsolt forced swim task relative to SN subjects. These results extend the usefulness of this early enrichment paradigm from mice to rats, and found some rodent species differences in outcomes dependent on the behavioral test. They also emphasize the importance of social contact during pregnancy and lactation on offspring's optimal development across behaviors and ages.
Collapse
|
24
|
Ragan CM, Lonstein JS. Differential postpartum sensitivity to the anxiety-modulating effects of offspring contact is associated with innate anxiety and brainstem levels of dopamine beta-hydroxylase in female laboratory rats. Neuroscience 2014; 256:433-44. [PMID: 24161285 PMCID: PMC4097074 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2013.10.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2013] [Revised: 09/26/2013] [Accepted: 10/09/2013] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
In female mammals, the postpartum period involves dramatic shifts in many socioemotional behaviors. This includes a suppression of anxiety-related behaviors that requires recent physical contact with offspring. Factors contributing to differences among females in their susceptibility to the anxiety-modulating effect of offspring contact are unknown, but could include their innate anxiety and brain monoaminergic activity. Anxiety behavior was assessed in a large group of nulliparous female rats and the least-anxious and most-anxious tertiles were mated. Anxiety was assessed again postpartum after females were permitted or prevented from contacting their offspring 4 h before testing. Levels of dopamine β-hydroxylase (DBH, norepinephrine synthesizing enzyme) and tryptophan hydroxylase-2 (TPH2, serotonin synthesizing enzyme) were measured in the brainstem and dorsal raphe, respectively. It was found that anxiety-related behavior in the two groups did not differ when dams were permitted contact with offspring before testing. Removal of the offspring before testing, however, differentially affected anxiety based on dams' innate anxiety. Specifically, dams reverted back to their pre-mating levels of anxiety such that offspring removal slightly increased anxiety in the most-anxious females but greatly lowered anxiety in the least-anxious females. This reduction in anxiety in the least-anxious females after litter removal was associated with lower brainstem DBH. There was no relationship between females' anxiety and dorsal raphe TPH2. Thus, a primary effect of recent contact with offspring on anxiety-related behavior in postpartum rats is to shift females away from their innate anxiety to a more moderate level of responding. This effect is particularly true for females with the lowest anxiety, may be mediated by central noradrenergic systems, and has implications for their ability to attend to their offspring.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- C M Ragan
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, 108 Giltner Hall, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.
| | - J S Lonstein
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, 108 Giltner Hall, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Behavioral evaluation of eight rat lines selected for high and low anxiety-related responses. Behav Brain Res 2013; 257:39-48. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2013.09.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2012] [Revised: 09/12/2013] [Accepted: 09/13/2013] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
|
26
|
Foxp2 mediates sex differences in ultrasonic vocalization by rat pups and directs order of maternal retrieval. J Neurosci 2013; 33:3276-83. [PMID: 23426656 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0425-12.2013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The FOXP2 gene is central to acquisition of speech and language in humans and vocal production in birds and mammals. Rodents communicate via ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) and newborn pups emit distress USVs when separated from their dam, thereby facilitating their retrieval. We observed that isolated male rat pups emitted substantially more USV calls and these were characterized by a significantly lower frequency and amplitude compared with female rat pups. Moreover, the dam was more likely to first retrieve male pups back to the nest, then females. The amount of Foxp2 protein was significantly higher in multiple regions of the developing male brain compared with females and a reduction of brain Foxp2 by siRNA eliminated the sex differences in USVs and altered the order of pup retrieval. Our results implicate Foxp2 as a component of the neurobiological basis of sex differences in vocal communication in mammals. We extended these observations to humans, a species reported to have gender differences in language acquisition, and found the amount of FOXP2 protein in the left hemisphere cortex of 4-year-old boys was significantly lower than in age-matched girls.
Collapse
|
27
|
Donner NC, Lowry CA. Sex differences in anxiety and emotional behavior. Pflugers Arch 2013; 465:601-26. [PMID: 23588380 DOI: 10.1007/s00424-013-1271-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 227] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2013] [Revised: 03/13/2013] [Accepted: 03/13/2013] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Research has elucidated causal links between stress exposure and the development of anxiety disorders, but due to the limited use of female or sex-comparative animal models, little is known about the mechanisms underlying sex differences in those disorders. This is despite an overwhelming wealth of evidence from the clinical literature that the prevalence of anxiety disorders is about twice as high in women compared to men, in addition to gender differences in severity and treatment efficacy. We here review human gender differences in generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder and anxiety-relevant biological functions, discuss the limitations of classic conflict anxiety tests to measure naturally occurring sex differences in anxiety-like behaviors, describe sex-dependent manifestation of anxiety states after gestational, neonatal, or adolescent stressors, and present animal models of chronic anxiety states induced by acute or chronic stressors during adulthood. Potential mechanisms underlying sex differences in stress-related anxiety states include emerging evidence supporting the existence of two anatomically and functionally distinct serotonergic circuits that are related to the modulation of conflict anxiety and panic-like anxiety, respectively. We discuss how these serotonergic circuits may be controlled by reproductive steroid hormone-dependent modulation of crfr1 and crfr2 expression in the midbrain dorsal raphe nucleus and by estrous stage-dependent alterations of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABAergic) neurotransmission in the periaqueductal gray, ultimately leading to sex differences in emotional behavior.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nina C Donner
- Department of Integrative Physiology and Center for Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, 1725 Pleasant Street, 114 Clare Small, Boulder, CO 80309-0354, USA.
| | | |
Collapse
|
28
|
Taracha E, Hamed A, Krząścik P, Lehner M, Skórzewska A, Płaźnik A, Chrapusta SJ. Inter-individual diversity and intra-individual stability of amphetamine-induced sensitization of frequency-modulated 50-kHz vocalization in Sprague-Dawley rats. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2012; 222:619-32. [PMID: 22354555 PMCID: PMC3402670 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-012-2658-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2011] [Accepted: 01/31/2012] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Propensity for drug dependence shows great diversity that is related to intrinsic neurobiological factors. This diversity is important both for the understanding of these traits and for the development of therapies. OBJECTIVES The goals of the study were (1) to define, using ultrasonic vocalization characteristics, inter-individual differences in rats' propensity for sensitization to amphetamine, (2) to test whether possible resistance to this effect could be overcome with repetitive treatment, and (3) to seek useful predictors of the propensity. METHODS Rats were subject to tests meant to characterize their anxiety, pain sensitivity, and responses to novelty and natural rewards. Then they were subject to the so-called two-injection protocol of sensitization (using amphetamine) followed by 2 weeks of daily amphetamine treatment, 2-week withdrawal, and final amphetamine challenge. The development and outcome of sensitization were monitored by measuring 50-kHz vocalization. RESULTS The two-injection protocol yielded three patterns of changes in the frequency-modulated 50-kHz vocalization response to amphetamine. These patterns persisted after completion of the extended drug treatment. Rats with lower sensitivity to pain or with longer latency of their vocalization response to the first drug exposure showed an increased propensity for ultrasonic vocalization sensitization. CONCLUSION Vulnerability to sensitization of frequency-modulated 50-kHz vocalization response of Sprague-Dawley rats to amphetamine, which supposedly reflects rats' propensity for amphetamine dependence, shows large inter-individual diversity. Resistance to this effect, which is evident in a majority of the rats, cannot be overcome even with prolonged intermittent drug treatment under the conditions (novelty) that promote sensitization.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ewa Taracha
- Department of Neurochemistry, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, 9 Sobieskiego St, 02-957 Warsaw, Poland.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
29
|
Webber E, Harmon K, Beckwith T, Peña S, Burgdorf J, Panksepp J, Cromwell H. Selective breeding for 50kHz ultrasonic vocalization emission produces alterations in the ontogeny and regulation of rough-and-tumble play. Behav Brain Res 2012; 229:138-44. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2012.01.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2011] [Revised: 11/29/2011] [Accepted: 01/04/2012] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
|
30
|
Schwarting RKW, Wöhr M. On the relationships between ultrasonic calling and anxiety-related behavior in rats. Braz J Med Biol Res 2012; 45:337-48. [PMID: 22437483 PMCID: PMC3854164 DOI: 10.1590/s0100-879x2012007500038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2011] [Accepted: 03/08/2012] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
In the present review, the phenomenon of ultrasonic vocalization in rats will be outlined, including the three classes of vocalizations, namely 40-kHz calls of pups, and 22- and 50-kHz calls of juvenile and adult rats, their general relevance to behavioral neuroscience, and their special relevance to research on anxiety, fear, and defense mechanisms. Here, the emphasis will be placed on 40- and 22-kHz calls, since they are typical for various situations with aversive properties. Among other topics, we will discuss whether such behavioral signals can index a certain affective state, and how these signals can be used in social neuroscience, especially with respect to communication. Furthermore, we will address the phenomenon of inter-individual variability in ultrasonic calling and what we currently know about the mechanisms, which may determine such variability. Finally, we will address the current knowledge on the neural and pharmacological mechanisms underlying 22-kHz ultrasonic vocalization, which show a substantial overlap with mechanisms known from other research on fear and anxiety, such as those involving the periaqueductal gray or the amygdala.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- R K W Schwarting
- Experimental and Physiological Psychology, Philipps-University of Marburg, Germany.
| | | |
Collapse
|
31
|
Abstract
Animal models can certainly be useful to find out more about the biological bases of anxiety disorders and develop new, more efficient pharmacological and/or behavioral treatments. However, many of the current "models of anxiety" in animals do not deal with pathology itself, but only with extreme forms of anxiety which are still in the normal, adaptive range. These models have certainly provided a lot of information on brain and behavioral mechanisms which could be involved in the etiology and physiopathology of anxiety disorders, but are usually not satisfactory when confronted directly with clinical syndromes. Further progress in this field will probably depend on the finding of endophenotypes which can be studied in both humans and animals with common methodological approaches. The emphasis should be on individual differences in vulnerability, which have to be included in animal models. Finally, progress will also depend on refining theoretical constructs from an interdisciplinary perspective, including psychiatry, psychology, behavioral sciences, genetics, and other neurosciences.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thierry Steimer
- Laboratoire de recherches, Unité de Psychopharmacologie Clinique – HUG, 2, ch. du Petit-Bel-Air, 1225 Genève, Switzerland.
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Brudzynski SM, Gibson B, Silkstone M, Burgdorf J, Kroes RA, Moskal JR, Panksepp J. Motor and locomotor responses to systemic amphetamine in three lines of selectively bred Long-Evans rats. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2011; 100:119-24. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2011.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2011] [Revised: 07/26/2011] [Accepted: 08/10/2011] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
|
33
|
van Velzen A, Toth M. Role of maternal 5-HT(1A) receptor in programming offspring emotional and physical development. GENES BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR 2011; 9:877-85. [PMID: 20633050 DOI: 10.1111/j.1601-183x.2010.00625.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Serotonin(1A) receptor (5-HT(1A)R) deficiency has been associated with anxiety and depression and mice with genetic receptor inactivation exhibit heightened anxiety. We have reported that 5-HT(1A)R is not only a genetic but also a maternal 'environmental' factor in the development of anxiety in Swiss-Webster mice. Here, we tested whether the emergence of maternal genotype-dependent adult anxiety is preceded by early behavioral abnormalities or whether it is manifested following a normal emotional development. Pups born to null or heterozygote mothers had significantly reduced ultrasonic vocalization (USV) between postnatal day (P) 4 and 12, indicating an influence of the maternal genotype. The offspring's own genotype had an effect limited to P4. Furthermore, we observed reduced weight gain in the null offspring of null but not heterozygote mothers, indicating that a complete maternal receptor deficiency compromises physical development of the offspring. Except a short perinatal deficit during the dark period, heterozygote females displayed normal maternal behavior, which, with the early appearance of USV deficit, suggests a role for 5-HT(1A)R during pre-/perinatal development. Consistent with this notion, adult anxiety in the offspring is determined during the pre-/perinatal period. In contrast to heterozygote females, null mothers exhibited impaired pup retrieval and nest building that may explain the reduced weight gain of their offspring. Taken together, our data indicate an important role for the maternal 5-HT(1A)R in regulating emotional and physical development of their offspring. Because reduced receptor binding has been reported in depression, including postpartum depression, reduced 5-HT(1A)R function in mothers may influence the emotional development of their offspring.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A van Velzen
- Department of Pharmacology, Cornell University, Weill Medical College, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
34
|
Effects of intraaccumbens amphetamine on production of 50kHz vocalizations in three lines of selectively bred Long-Evans rats. Behav Brain Res 2011; 217:32-40. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2010.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2010] [Revised: 09/28/2010] [Accepted: 10/04/2010] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
|
35
|
Moore H, Craft TK, Grimaldi LM, Babic B, Brunelli SA, Vannucci SJ. Moderate recurrent hypoglycemia during early development leads to persistent changes in affective behavior in the rat. Brain Behav Immun 2010; 24:839-49. [PMID: 19944751 PMCID: PMC2885529 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2009.11.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2009] [Revised: 11/22/2009] [Accepted: 11/23/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Recurrent hypoglycemia is a common problem among infants and children that is associated with several metabolic disorders and insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Although studies have reported a relationship between a history of juvenile hypoglycemia and psychological health problems, the direct effects of recurrent moderate hypoglycemia have not been fully determined. Thus, in this study, we used an animal model to examine the effects of recurrent hypoglycemia during the juvenile period on affective, social, and motor function (assessed under euglycemic conditions) across development. To model recurrent hypoglycemia, rats were administered 5 U/kg of insulin or saline twice per day from postnatal day (P)10 to P19. Body weight gain was retarded in insulin-treated rats during the treatment period, but recovered by the end of treatment. However, insulin-treated rats displayed increases in affective reactivity that emerged early during treatment and persisted after treatment into early adulthood. Specifically, insulin-treated pups showed increased maternal separation-induced vocalizations as infants, and an exaggerated acoustic startle reflex as juveniles and young adults. Moreover, young adult rats with a history of recurrent juvenile hypoglycemia exhibited increased fear-potentiated startle and increases in behavioral and hormonal responses to restraint stress. Some of these effects were sex-dependent. The changes in affective behavior in insulin-exposed pups were accompanied by decreases in adolescent social play behavior. These results provide evidence that recurrent, transient hypoglycemia during juvenile development can lead to increases in fear-related behavior and stress reactivity. Importantly, these phenotypes are not reversed with normalization of blood glucose and may persist into adulthood.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Holly Moore
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Integrative Neuroscience, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Tara K.S. Craft
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Integrative Neuroscience, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Lisa M. Grimaldi
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, The Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital of New York-Presbyterian, New York, NY, USA
| | - Bruna Babic
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, The Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital of New York-Presbyterian, New York, NY, USA
| | - Susan A. Brunelli
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Susan J. Vannucci
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, The Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital of New York-Presbyterian, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Pediatrics/Newborn Medicine, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Schulz D, Mirrione MM, Henn FA. Cognitive aspects of congenital learned helplessness and its reversal by the monoamine oxidase (MAO)-B inhibitor deprenyl. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2010; 93:291-301. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2009.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2009] [Revised: 10/30/2009] [Accepted: 11/15/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
|
37
|
Gaub S, Groszer M, Fisher SE, Ehret G. The structure of innate vocalizations in Foxp2-deficient mouse pups. GENES BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR 2010; 9:390-401. [PMID: 20132318 PMCID: PMC2895353 DOI: 10.1111/j.1601-183x.2010.00570.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Heterozygous mutations of the human FOXP2 gene are implicated in a severe speech and language disorder. Aetiological mutations of murine Foxp2 yield abnormal synaptic plasticity and impaired motor-skill learning in mutant mice, while knockdown of the avian orthologue in songbirds interferes with auditory-guided vocal learning. Here, we investigate influences of two distinct Foxp2 point mutations on vocalizations of 4-day-old mouse pups (Mus musculus). The R552H missense mutation is identical to that causing speech and language deficits in a large well-studied human family, while the S321X nonsense mutation represents a null allele that does not produce Foxp2 protein. We ask whether vocalizations, based solely on innate mechanisms of production, are affected by these alternative Foxp2 mutations. Sound recordings were taken in two different situations: isolation and distress, eliciting a range of call types, including broadband vocalizations of varying noise content, ultrasonic whistles and clicks. Sound production rates and several acoustic parameters showed that, despite absence of functional Foxp2, homozygous mutants could vocalize all types of sounds in a normal temporal pattern, but only at comparably low intensities. We suggest that altered vocal output of these homozygotes may be secondary to developmental delays and somatic weakness. Heterozygous mutants did not differ from wild-types in any of the measures that we studied (R552H ) or in only a few (S321X ), which were in the range of differences routinely observed for different mouse strains. Thus, Foxp2 is not essential for the innate production of emotional vocalizations with largely normal acoustic properties by mouse pups.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- S Gaub
- Institute of Neurobiology, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
38
|
Wöhr M, Oddi D, D'Amato FR. Effect of altricial pup ultrasonic vocalization on maternal behavior. HANDBOOK OF BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE 2010. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-374593-4.00016-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
|
39
|
Brunelli SA, Aviles JA, Gannon KS, Branscomb A, Shacham S. PRX-00023, a selective serotonin 1A receptor agonist, reduces ultrasonic vocalizations in infant rats bred for high infantile anxiety. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2009; 94:8-15. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2009.06.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2008] [Revised: 06/20/2009] [Accepted: 06/23/2009] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
|
40
|
Zanettini C, Carola V, Lo Iacono L, Moles A, Gross C, D'Amato FR. Postnatal handling reverses social anxiety in serotonin receptor 1A knockout mice. GENES BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR 2009; 9:26-32. [PMID: 19740091 DOI: 10.1111/j.1601-183x.2009.00531.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Mice lacking the serotonin receptor 1A (Htr1a knockout, Htr1a(KO)) show increased innate and conditioned anxiety. This phenotype depends on functional receptor activity during the third through fifth weeks of life and thus appears to be the result of long-term changes in brain function as a consequence of an early deficit in serotonin signaling. To evaluate whether this phenotype can be influenced by early environmental factors, we subjected Htr1a knockout mice to postnatal handling, a procedure known to reduce anxiety-like behavior and stress responses in adulthood. Offspring of heterozygous Htr1a knockout mice were separated from their mother and exposed 15 min each day from postnatal day 1 (PD1) to PD14 to clean bedding. Control animals were left undisturbed. Maternal behavior was observed during the first 13 days of life. Adult male offspring were tested in the open field, social approach and resident-intruder tests and assessed for corticosterone response to restraint stress. Knockout mice showed increased anxiety in the open field and in the social approach test as well as an enhanced corticosterone response to stress. However, while no effect of postnatal handling was seen in wild-type mice, handling reduced anxiety-like behavior in the social interaction test and the corticosterone response to stress in knockout mice. These findings extend the anxiety phenotype of Htr1a(KO) mice to include social anxiety and demonstrate that this phenotype can be moderated by early environmental factors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- C Zanettini
- CNR Institute of Neuroscience, Via del Fosso di Fiorano 64, 00143 Roma, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
41
|
Stevenson CW, Goodwin PE, Tunstall B, Spicer CH, Marsden CA, Mason R. Neonatal maternal separation alters reward-related ultrasonic vocalizations in rat dams. Behav Brain Res 2009; 200:232-6. [PMID: 19378466 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2009.01.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
We examined the effects of brief or long durations of repeated maternal separation (MS) on ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) in rat dams. 50-kHz USVs putatively identified as maternal in origin were emitted only immediately after pups were returned following MS. Maternal USV emission also depended on separation duration and pup age. Given that 50-kHz USVs are emitted in response to rewarding stimuli, MS may induce duration-dependent effects on maternal positive affect.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carl W Stevenson
- School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Nottingham, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham NG72UH, UK.
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
42
|
Abstract
Anxiety disorders are a growing health problem world-wide. However, the causative factors, etiology, and underlying mechanisms of anxiety disorders, as for most psychiatric disorders, remain relatively poorly understood. The current status of clinical research indicates that anxiety traits and anxiety disorder in man have a genetic component, and therefore genetic modeling in animals is a logical approach to gain a greater insight into their neurobiology. However, it is also clear that the nature of these genetic contributions is highly complex. Moreover, the success of this approach is largely contingent upon the utility of available behavioral paradigms for modeling anxiety-related behaviors in mice. Animal genetic models provide a unique and comprehensive methodological tool to aid discovery into the etiology, neurobiology, and ultimately, the therapy of human anxiety disorders. The approach, however, is challenged with a number of complexities. In particular, the heterogeneous nature of anxiety disorders in man coupled with the associated multifaceted and descriptive diagnostic criteria, create challenges in both animal modeling and in clinical research. In this article, we describe some of the powerful modem genetic techniques that are uniquely amenable to the laboratory mouse and thus provide a strategy for approaching some of these challenges. Moreover, we focus on recent advances which have highlighted the relative contribution of genetic modeling in animals to the understanding of underlying neurobiology and genetic basis of anxiety disorders.
Collapse
|
43
|
Campbell P, Reep RL, Stoll ML, Ophir AG, Phelps SM. Conservation and diversity of Foxp2 expression in muroid rodents: functional implications. J Comp Neurol 2009; 512:84-100. [PMID: 18972576 PMCID: PMC2677918 DOI: 10.1002/cne.21881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
FOXP2, the first gene causally linked to a human language disorder, is implicated in song acquisition, production, and perception in oscine songbirds, the evolution of speech and language in hominids, and the evolution of echolocation in bats. Despite the evident relevance of Foxp2 to vertebrate acoustic communication, a comprehensive description of neural expression patterns is currently lacking in mammals. Here we use immunocytochemistry to systematically describe the neural distribution of Foxp2 protein in four species of muroid rodents: Scotinomys teguina and S. xerampelinus ("singing mice"), the deer mouse, Peromyscus maniculatus, and the lab mouse, Mus musculus. While expression patterns were generally highly conserved across brain regions, we identified subtle but consistent interspecific differences in Foxp2 distribution, most notably in the medial amygdala and nucleus accumbens, and in layer V cortex throughout the brain. Throughout the brain, Foxp2 was highly enriched in areas involved in modulation of fine motor output (striatum, mesolimbic dopamine circuit, olivocerebellar system) and in multimodal sensory processing and sensorimotor integration (thalamus, cortex). We propose a generalized model for Foxp2-modulated pathways in the adult brain including, but not limited to, fine motor production and auditory perception.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Polly Campbell
- Department of Zoology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, USA.
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
44
|
Burgdorf J, Panksepp J, Brudzynski SM, Beinfeld MC, Cromwell HC, Kroes RA, Moskal JR. The effects of selective breeding for differential rates of 50-kHz ultrasonic vocalizations on emotional behavior in rats. Dev Psychobiol 2009; 51:34-46. [DOI: 10.1002/dev.20343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
|
45
|
Marchei P, Diverio S, Falocci N, Fatjó J, Ruiz-de-la-Torre JL, Manteca X. Breed differences in behavioural development in kittens. Physiol Behav 2008; 96:522-31. [PMID: 19101579 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2008.11.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2007] [Revised: 11/21/2008] [Accepted: 11/26/2008] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Differences in behaviour of pure breed cats have been suggested but not wholly investigated. Oriental/Siamese/Abyssinian (OSA) kittens (n=43) were weekly compared with Norwegian Forest (NFO) kittens (n=39) from the 4th to the 10th week of age in a repeated Open Field Test (OFT) paradigm. Heart rate (HR) and rectal temperature (RT) before and after the test, and behavioural responses during the OFT were recorded. Behaviours registered were analysed by focal animal sampling. Significant breed differences were found; cats of the northern zones (NFO) seem to develop earlier thermoregulatory abilities. Precocious opening of eyes, higher locomotion scores and longer time spent standing, observed in OSA kittens may indicate an earlier neurological development. Inter breed differences recorded for exploration and locomotion seem to indicate coping style divergences: in the OFT challenging situation OSA kittens presented higher emotional tachycardia and performed more passively, with a faster decline in exploration and locomotion scores. NFO kittens exerted a more active behaviour as they spent more time exploring the arena and in escape attempts. Notwithstanding OSA and NFO cat selection was mainly aimed to improve divergent morphological traits, some different behavioural and physiological traits seem to have been maintained or co-selected within each breed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- P Marchei
- Departament de Ciència Animal i dels Aliments, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra 08193, Spain.
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
46
|
Muigg P, Hetzenauer A, Hauer G, Hauschild M, Gaburro S, Frank E, Landgraf R, Singewald N. Impaired extinction of learned fear in rats selectively bred for high anxiety--evidence of altered neuronal processing in prefrontal-amygdala pathways. Eur J Neurosci 2008; 28:2299-309. [PMID: 19019199 PMCID: PMC2777258 DOI: 10.1111/j.1460-9568.2008.06511.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
The impaired extinction of acquired fear is a core symptom of anxiety disorders, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, phobias or panic disorder, and is known to be particularly resistant to existing pharmacotherapy. We provide here evidence that a similar relationship between trait anxiety and resistance to extinction of fear memory can be mimicked in a psychopathologic animal model. Wistar rat lines selectively bred for high (HAB) or low (LAB) anxiety-related behaviour were tested in a classical cued fear conditioning task utilizing freezing responses as a measure of fear. Fear acquisition was similar in both lines. In the extinction trial, however, HAB rats showed a marked deficit in the attenuation of freezing responses to repeated auditory conditioned stimulus presentations as compared with LAB rats, which exhibited rapid extinction. To gain information concerning the putatively altered neuronal processing associated with the differential behavioural response between HAB and LAB rats, c-Fos expression was investigated in the main prefrontal-amygdala pathways important for cued fear extinction. HAB compared to LAB rats showed an attenuated c-Fos response to repeated conditioned stimulus presentations in infralimbic and cingulate cortices, as well as in the lateral amygdala, but facilitated the c-Fos response in the medial part of the central amygdala. In conclusion, the present results support the notion that impaired extinction in high anxiety rats is accompanied by an aberrant activation profile in extinction-relevant prefrontal-amygdala circuits. Thus, HAB rats may represent a clinically relevant model to study the mechanisms and potential targets to accelerate delayed extinction processes in subjects with enhanced trait anxiety.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Patrik Muigg
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Institute of Pharmacy, Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck, University of Innsbruck, Peter-Mayer-Strasse 1, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
47
|
Wöhr M, Dahlhoff M, Wolf E, Holsboer F, Schwarting RKW, Wotjak CT. Effects of Genetic Background, Gender, and Early Environmental Factors on Isolation-Induced Ultrasonic Calling in Mouse Pups: An Embryo-Transfer Study. Behav Genet 2008; 38:579-95. [DOI: 10.1007/s10519-008-9221-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2008] [Accepted: 07/29/2008] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
|
48
|
Harmon KM, Cromwell HC, Burgdorf J, Moskal JR, Brudzynski SM, Kroes RA, Panksepp J. Rats selectively bred for low levels of 50 kHz ultrasonic vocalizations exhibit alterations in early social motivation. Dev Psychobiol 2008; 50:322-31. [PMID: 18393285 DOI: 10.1002/dev.20294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
In rats, the rates of 50 kHz ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) can be used as a selective breeding phenotype and variations in this phenotype can be an indicator of affective states. The 50 kHz USV is elicited by rewarding stimuli (e.g., food, sexual behavior) and therefore can express a positive affective state. Conversely, the 22 kHz USV is elicited by aversive stimuli (e.g., presence of a predator, social defeat) indicating a negative affective state. In the present study, we tested the effect of selectively breeding for 50 kHz USVs on a variety of maternal social/emotional behaviors in young rat pups (PND 10-12). These measures consisted of an assessment of isolation calls and conditioned odor preference paradigm. Results indicate that animals selected for low levels of 50 kHz USVs show the greatest alterations in social behaviors compared to the control animals. The low line animals had an increase in isolation calls tested during place preference conditioning and a decrease in 50 kHz ultrasonic calls in all conditions. These same low line animals failed to show a typical preference for a maternally-associated odor during the place preference test. The different social behaviors of the high line animals did not consistently vary from those of the control group. These results have important implications for the study of genetic and epigenetic mechanisms underlying emotional states, and possibly contribute to the research underlying the emotional changes in developmental disorders such as autistic spectrum disorder by providing a novel animal model that displays communication deficits that are interdependent with significant social behavioral impairments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- K M Harmon
- Department of Psychology, Bowling Green State University, Bowing Green, OH 43403, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
49
|
Bang SJ, Allen TA, Jones LK, Boguszewski P, Brown TH. Asymmetrical stimulus generalization following differential fear conditioning. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2008; 90:200-16. [PMID: 18434217 PMCID: PMC2516404 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2008.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2007] [Revised: 02/25/2008] [Accepted: 02/28/2008] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Rodent ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) are ethologically critical social signals. Rats emit 22kHz USVs and 50kHz USVs, respectively, in conjunction with negative and positive affective states. Little is known about what controls emotional reactivity to these social signals. Using male Sprague-Dawley rats, we examined unconditional and conditional freezing behavior in response to the following auditory stimuli: three 22kHz USVs, a discontinuous tone whose frequency and on-off pattern matched one of the USVs, a continuous tone with the same or lower frequencies, a 4kHz discontinuous tone with an on-off pattern matched to one of the USVs, and a 50kHz USV. There were no differences among these stimuli in terms of the unconditional elicitation of freezing behavior. Thus, the stimuli were equally neutral before conditioning. During differential fear conditioning, one of these stimuli (the CS(+)) always co-terminated with a footshock unconditional stimulus (US) and another stimulus (the CS(-)) was explicitly unpaired with the US. There were no significant differences among these cues in CS(+)-elicited freezing behavior. Thus, the stimuli were equally salient or effective as cues in supporting fear conditioning. When the CS(+) was a 22kHz USV or a similar stimulus, rats discriminated based on the principal frequency and/or the temporal pattern of the stimulus. However, when these same stimuli served as the CS(-), discrimination failed due to generalization from the CS(+). Thus, the stimuli differed markedly in the specificity of conditioning. This strikingly asymmetrical stimulus generalization is a novel bias in discrimination.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sun Jung Bang
- Department of Psychology, Yale University, 2 Hillhouse Avenue, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
50
|
Szentgyörgyi H, Kapusta J, Marchlewska-Koj A. Ultrasonic calls of bank vole pups isolated and exposed to cold or to nest odor. Physiol Behav 2007; 93:296-303. [PMID: 17961612 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2007.09.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2007] [Revised: 08/23/2007] [Accepted: 09/03/2007] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Bank vole pups produce ultrasounds when isolated from the nest, as other rodents do. The present study was intended to elucidate the possible interaction between the social stress of isolation from the mother and the physical stress of low ambient temperature during the nesting period. Although bank vole pups removed from nests and monitored at nest temperature vocalized at high frequency, the number and duration of signals increased at lower ambient temperature. In the tested voles it appears that exposure to cold was the most important stimulus of vocalization during the preweaning period. This effect can be enhanced by prolonged isolation from the mother, manifested as longer duration of calls. Moreover, vocalization was reduced not only by the odor from the home nest, but also by exposure to bedding of an alien lactating bank vole or even a lactating mouse fed the same diet. This suggests that the olfactory signals affecting the ultrasonic vocalization of bank vole pups probably are a mixture of volatile metabolites related to the physiological status and diet of rodent females. The reported experiments provide convincing evidence that the vocalization of bank vole pups is affected by isolation from the mother, by ambient temperature, and by olfactory signals released by lactating rodent females.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- H Szentgyörgyi
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Krakow, Poland
| | | | | |
Collapse
|