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Schwarting RKW. Behavioral analysis in laboratory rats: Challenges and usefulness of 50-kHz ultrasonic vocalizations. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 152:105260. [PMID: 37268181 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Revised: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Many rodent species emit and detect vocalizations in the ultrasonic range. Rats use three classes of ultrasonic vocalizations depending on developmental stage, experience and the behavioral situation. Calls from one class emitted by juvenile and adult rats, the so-called 50-kHz calls, are typical for appetitive and social situations. This review provides a brief historical account on the introduction of 50-kHz calls in behavioral research followed by a survey of their scientific applications focusing on the last five years, where 50-kHz publications reached a climax. Then, specific methodological challenges will be addressed, like how to measure and report 50-kHz USV, the problem of assignment of acoustic signals to a specific sender in a social situation, and individual variability in call propensity. Finally, the intricacy of interpreting 50-kHz results will be discussed focusing on the most prevalent ones, namely as communicative signals and/or readouts of the sender's emotional status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rainer K W Schwarting
- Experimental and Biological Psychology, Behavioral Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology, Philipps-University of Marburg, Gutenbergstrasse 18, 35032 Marburg, Germany; Marburg Center for Mind, Brain, and Behavior (MCMBB), Hans-Meerwein-Strasse 6, 35032 Marburg, Germany.
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Increased self-triggered vocalizations in an epidermal growth factor-induced rat model for schizophrenia. Sci Rep 2022; 12:12917. [PMID: 35902695 PMCID: PMC9334381 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-17174-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Rats elicit two types of ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs), positive (30–80 kHz; high pitch) and negative (10–30 kHz; low pitch) voices. As patients with schizophrenia often exhibit soliloquy-like symptoms, we explored whether an animal model for schizophrenia is similarly characterized by such self-triggered vocalizations. We prepared the animal model by administering an inflammatory cytokine, epidermal growth factor (EGF), to rat neonates, which later develop behavioral and electroencephalographic deficits relevant to schizophrenia. EGF model rats and controls at young (8–10 weeks old) and mature (12–14 weeks old) adult stages were subjected to acclimation, female pairing, and vocalization sessions. In acclimation sessions, low pitch USVs at the mature adult stage were more frequent in EGF model rats than in controls. In the vocalization session, the occurrences of low pitch self-triggered USVs were higher in EGF model rats in both age groups, although this group difference was eliminated by their risperidone treatment. Unlike conventional negative USVs of rats, however, the present low pitch self-triggered USVs had short durations of 10–30 ms. These results suggest the potential that self-triggered vocalization might serve as a translatable pathological trait of schizophrenia to animal models.
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Kanazawa LKS, Radulski DR, Pereira GS, Prickaerts J, Schwarting RKW, Acco A, Andreatini R. Andrographolide blocks 50-kHz ultrasonic vocalizations, hyperlocomotion and oxidative stress in an animal model of mania. J Psychiatr Res 2021; 139:91-98. [PMID: 34058655 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2021.05.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2021] [Revised: 04/24/2021] [Accepted: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
In rats, lisdexamfetamine (LDX) induces manic-like behaviors such as hyperlocomotion and increases in appetitive 50-kHz ultrasonic vocalizations (USV), which are prevented by antimanic drugs, such as lithium. Inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK3β) and antioxidant activity have been associated with antimanic effects. Thus, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the possible antimanic-like effects of andrographolide (ANDRO), a GSK3β inhibitor, on LDX-induced hyperlocomotion and 50-kHz USV increases. In addition, the effect of ANDRO was studied on LDX-induced oxidative stress. Lithium was used as positive control. Adult Wistar rats were treated with vehicle, lithium (100 mg/kg i.p., daily) or ANDRO (2 mg/kg i.p., 3 times a week) for 21 days. On the test day, either 10 mg/kg LDX or saline was administered i.p. and USV and locomotor activity were recorded. LDX administration increased the number of 50-kHz calls, as well as locomotor activity. Repeated treatment with lithium or ANDRO prevented these effects of LDX on 50-kHz USV and locomotor activity. LDX increased lipid peroxidation (LPO) levels in rat striatum and both lithium and ANDRO prevented this effect. LPO levels in rat striatum were positively correlated with increases in 50-kHz USV emission as well as hyperlocomotion. In conclusion, the present results indicate that ANDRO has antimanic-like effects, which may be mediated by its antioxidant properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luiz K S Kanazawa
- Laboratory of Physiology and Pharmacology of the Central Nervous System, Department of Pharmacology, Federal University of Paraná, Centro Politécnico, 81540-990, Curitiba, PR, Brazil
| | - Débora R Radulski
- Laboratory of Pharmacology and Metabolism, Department of Pharmacology, Federal University of Paraná, Centro Politécnico, 81540-990, Curitiba, PR, Brazil
| | - Gabriela S Pereira
- Laboratory of Pharmacology and Metabolism, Department of Pharmacology, Federal University of Paraná, Centro Politécnico, 81540-990, Curitiba, PR, Brazil
| | - Jos Prickaerts
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychiatry, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNS), Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 50, 6229 ER Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Rainer K W Schwarting
- Behavioural Neuroscience, Experimental and Biological Psychology, and Center for Mind, Brain, and Behavior (CMBB), Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, 35032, Germany
| | - Alexandra Acco
- Laboratory of Pharmacology and Metabolism, Department of Pharmacology, Federal University of Paraná, Centro Politécnico, 81540-990, Curitiba, PR, Brazil
| | - Roberto Andreatini
- Laboratory of Physiology and Pharmacology of the Central Nervous System, Department of Pharmacology, Federal University of Paraná, Centro Politécnico, 81540-990, Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
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