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Tripp JA, Phelps SM. Females counter-sing, but response to male song differs by sex in Alston's singing mouse. Biol Lett 2024; 20:20230484. [PMID: 38195056 PMCID: PMC10776218 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2023.0484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Vocal display behaviours are common throughout the animal kingdom, play important roles in both courtship and aggression, and are frequent subjects of behavioural research. Although females of many species vocalize, an overwhelming fraction of behavioural research has focused on male display. We investigated vocal display behaviours in female singing mice (Scotinomys teguina), small muroid rodents in which both sexes produce songs consisting of trills of rapid, downward frequency sweeps. Previous research established that male singing mice increase song production and engage in precisely timed counter-singing behaviour in response to playback of conspecific male song. We tested whether female singing mice also increased their rate of singing in response to playback of male song, whether they counter-sing, and whether there are sexual dimorphisms in song effort. Our results demonstrate that much like males, female singing mice increase their song effort and counter-sing in response to playback of male song; however, females sing fewer and shorter songs compared to males. This study further informs the understanding of female vocal behaviour and establishes the singing mouse as a valuable model for investigating female vocal display.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joel A. Tripp
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Steven M. Phelps
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
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Lan Z, Tachibana RO, Kanno K. Chronic exposure of female mice to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors during lactation induces vocal behavior deficits in pre-weaned offspring. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2023; 230:173606. [PMID: 37516283 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2023.173606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Revised: 07/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/31/2023]
Abstract
Developmental factors for autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) have been an ongoing debate despite an increasing number of reports on genetic factors. Recent studies have suggested maternal intake of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) as a possible developmental factor elevating the risk for ASD in offspring. Here, we show that maternal exposure of mice to an SSRI, Fluoxetine (FLX), induces abnormal ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs), an indicator of ASD-related behavior. We tested the effect of FLX intake during pregnancy, lactation, or both. We found that the lactation and both conditions decreased the number of USVs emitted by offspring pups. An index for assessing the syllables' frequency modulation revealed that highly modulated syllables appeared to be inhibited only in both conditions. Furthermore, we found that the number of serotonergic neurons at adulthood was reduced in the progeny of mice treated with FLX in all conditions. In addition, maternal exposure to FLX through pregnancy and lactation induced a high death rate of early post-natal pups. These suggest that the maternal exposure to SSRIs affects early development of offsprings as well as the serotonergic system. Focusing on vocal communication, our results indicate that intake of an SSRI during lactation increases the risk of abnormal USVs in pups, and provides potential insights into the development of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziguo Lan
- Laboratory of Neuroscience, Course of Psychology, Department of Humanities, Faculty of Law, Economics and Humanities, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan; Division of Neurobiology and Physiology, Department of Neuroscience, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Ryosuke O Tachibana
- Center for Evolutionary Cognitive Sciences, Department of Life Sciences, Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Meguro, Tokyo, Japan; Human Informatics and Interaction Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Kouta Kanno
- Laboratory of Neuroscience, Course of Psychology, Department of Humanities, Faculty of Law, Economics and Humanities, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan.
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Silberstein Y, Felmy F, Scheumann M. Encoding of Arousal and Physical Characteristics in Audible and Ultrasonic Vocalizations of Mongolian Gerbil Pups Testing Common Rules for Mammals. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:2553. [PMID: 37627344 PMCID: PMC10451175 DOI: 10.3390/ani13162553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
In mammals, common rules for the encoding of arousal and physical characteristics of the sender are suggested based on a similar vocal production apparatus. In this study, we want to investigate to what extent vocalizations of developing Mongolian gerbil pups fulfill these rules. We recorded vocalizations of 28 Mongolian gerbil pups in four developmental stages using a separation paradigm, suggested to induce different arousal levels. For low arousal, a pup was placed in an arena isolated from its siblings and parents; for high arousal, the pup was additionally stressed through the simulation of a predator. An unsupervised cluster analysis revealed three call types: ultrasonic (USV), audible vocalizations (ADV), and transitions between both (USV-ADV). The USV and USV-ADV rate showed an age-dependent decrease, contrasting an age-dependent increase for ADVs. Vocal correlates for the encoding of arousal were found for USVs and of physical characteristics for USVs and ADVs. However, the pattern of encoding these cues differed between call types and only partly confirmed the common rules suggested for mammals. Our results show that divergent encoding patterns do not only differ between species but also between call types within a species, indicating that coding rules can be shaped by socio-ecological factors or call type specific production mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yara Silberstein
- Institute of Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, 30559 Hannover, Germany
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Piastolov SV, Volodin IA, Vasilieva NY, Khrushchova AM, Shekarova ON, Volodina EV. Comparison of ultrasonic isolation calls of pure-breeding and interspecies hybrid Phodopus dwarf hamster pups. Behav Processes 2023; 210:104917. [PMID: 37459937 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2023.104917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Revised: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023]
Abstract
In mammalian cross-species hybrids, parameters of voice calls, produced by vocal fold vibrations, are intermediate between parental species. Inheritance of ultrasonic calls, produced by whistle mechanism, is unstudied for hybrids. We examined 4000 pup ultrasonic isolation-induced calls for peak power of call fundamental frequency and for call duration in 4-8-day-old captive hamsters of four Study Groups: pure Phodopus sungorus; pure P. campbelli of two populations (Mongolian and Kosh-Agach) and hybrids between male P. sungorus and female P. campbelli (Kosh-Agach). All Study Groups produced two categories of ultrasonic calls: Low-Frequency centered around 41 kHz and High-Frequency centered around 60 kHz, but in different percentages. Between populations, only Low-Frequency calls were shorter and higher-frequency in Mongolian P. campbelli. Between species, only High-Frequency calls were shorter and higher-frequency in P. sungorus. In hybrids, Low-Frequency calls were shorter and lower-frequency than in either parental species, whereas High-Frequency calls were longer and lower-frequency in hybrids than in pure P. sungorus but similar with another parental species. We discuss that interspecific hybridization may give rise to offspring with new properties of ultrasonic calls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Semen V Piastolov
- Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Vorobievy Gory, 1/12, Moscow 119234, Russia
| | - Ilya A Volodin
- Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Vorobievy Gory, 1/12, Moscow 119234, Russia.
| | - Nina Yu Vasilieva
- Department of Comparative Ethology and Biocommunication, A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, Leninsky prospect, 33, Moscow 119071, Russia
| | - Anastasia M Khrushchova
- Department of Comparative Ethology and Biocommunication, A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, Leninsky prospect, 33, Moscow 119071, Russia
| | - Olga N Shekarova
- Department of Population Ecology, A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, Leninsky prospect, 33, Moscow 119071, Russia
| | - Elena V Volodina
- Department of Behaviour and Behavioural Ecology, A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, Leninsky prospect, 33, Moscow 119071, Russia
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Hardy KA, Hart DM, Rosen MJ. Early-life stress affects Mongolian gerbil interactions with conspecific vocalizations in a sex-specific manner. Front Behav Neurosci 2023; 17:1128586. [PMID: 37234406 PMCID: PMC10206074 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1128586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
During development, early-life stress (ELS) impairs cognition, learning, and emotional regulation, in part by disrupting neural circuitry in regions underlying these higher-order functions. In addition, our recent work indicates that ELS also alters simple sensory perception: ELS impaired auditory perception and neural encoding of short gaps in sounds, which are essential for vocal communication. The combination of higher-order and basic sensory disruption suggests that ELS is likely to affect both the perception and interpretation of communication signals. We tested this hypothesis by measuring behavioral responses to conspecific vocalizations (those emitted by other gerbils) in ELS and untreated Mongolian gerbils. Because stress effects often differ by sex, we separately examined females and males. To induce ELS, pups were intermittently maternally separated and restrained from post-natal days (P) 9-24, a time window when the auditory cortex is most sensitive to external disruption. We measured the approach responses of juvenile (P31-32) gerbils to two types of conspecific vocalizations: an alarm call, which is emitted to alert other gerbils of a potential threat, and the prosocial contact call, which is emitted near familiar gerbils, especially after separation. Control males, Control females, and ELS females approached a speaker emitting pre-recorded alarm calls, while ELS males avoided this source, suggesting that ELS affects the response to alarm calls in male gerbils. During playback of the pre-recorded contact call, Control females and ELS males avoided the sound source, while Control males neither approached nor avoided, and ELS females approached the sound. These differences cannot be accounted for by changes in locomotion or baseline arousal. However, ELS gerbils slept more during playback, suggesting that ELS may reduce arousal during vocalization playback. Further, male gerbils made more errors than females on a measure of working memory, but the sex difference of cognition in this context may stem from novelty aversion rather than impaired memory. These data indicate that ELS influences behavioral responses to ethologically relevant communication sounds in a sex-specific manner, and are among the first to demonstrate an altered response to auditory stimuli following ELS. Such changes may arise from differences in auditory perception, cognition, or a combination of factors, and suggest that ELS may affect auditory communication in human adolescents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kate A. Hardy
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Hearing Research Group, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH, United States
- Department of Biological Sciences, Brain Health Research Institute, Kent State University, Kent, OH, United States
| | - Denise M. Hart
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Hearing Research Group, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH, United States
| | - Merri J. Rosen
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Hearing Research Group, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH, United States
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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.
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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
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Jenikejew J, Chaignon B, Linn S, Scheumann M. Proximity-based vocal networks reveal social relationships in the Southern white rhinoceros. Sci Rep 2020; 10:15104. [PMID: 32934303 PMCID: PMC7492360 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-72052-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Accepted: 08/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Vocal communication networks can be linked to social behaviour, allowing a deeper understanding of social relationships among individuals. For this purpose, the description of vocal dyads is fundamental. In group-living species, this identification is based on behavioural indicators which require a high level of reactivity during social interactions. In the present study, we alternatively established a proximity-based approach to investigate whether sex-specific differences in vocal communication reflect social behaviour in a species with rather loose social associations and low levels of reactivity: the Southern white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum simum). We performed audio- and video recordings of 30 captive animals from seven groups. Vocal networks for the four most common call types were constructed by considering conspecifics at close distance (≤ 1 body length) to the sender as potential receivers. The analysis of the resulting unidirectional structures showed that not only the sex of the sender but also the sex of the potential receiver, the quality of social interactions (affiliative or agonistic) as well as association strength predict the intensity of vocal interactions between group members. Thus, a proximity-based approach can be used to construct vocal networks providing information about the social relationships of conspecifics-even in species with loose social associations where behavioural indicators are limited.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Jenikejew
- Institute of Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Bünteweg 17, 30559, Hannover, Germany.
| | | | | | - Marina Scheumann
- Institute of Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Bünteweg 17, 30559, Hannover, Germany
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Volodin IA, Klenova AV, Ilchenko OG, Volodina EV. High frequency audible calls in northern birch mice Sicista betulina in response to handling: effects of individuality, sex and body mass on the acoustics. BMC Res Notes 2019; 12:677. [PMID: 31640790 PMCID: PMC6805337 DOI: 10.1186/s13104-019-4719-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2019] [Accepted: 10/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This is the first study of the sonic and ultrasonic vocalization in a Dipodidae rodent. For the small-sized quadrupedal northern birch mouse Sicista betulina, phylogenetically related to the bipedal jerboas (Dipodidae), we report null results for ultrasonic vocalization and investigate the acoustic cues to individual identity, sex and body size in the discomfort-related high-frequency tonal sonic calls. RESULTS We used a parallel audio recording in the sonic and ultrasonic ranges during weighting adult northern birch mice before the scheduled hibernation in captivity. The sonic (audible) high-frequency tonal calls (ranging from 6.21 to 9.86 kHz) were presented in all individuals (7 males and 4 females). The ultrasonic calls lacked in the recordings. Two-way nested ANOVA revealed the effects of caller individual identity on all 10 measured acoustic variables and the effects of sex on four out of 10 measured acoustic variables. Discriminant function analyses with 10 acoustic variables included in the analysis showed 85.5% correct assignment of calls to individual and 79.7% correct assignment of calls to sex; both values significantly exceeded the random values (23.1% and 54.3%, respectively) calculated with randomization procedure. Body mass did not differ between sexes and did not correlate significantly with the acoustic variables.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilya A Volodin
- Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Vorobievy Gory, 1/12, Moscow, 119234, Russia. .,Scientific Research Department, Moscow Zoo, B. Gruzinskaya, 1, Moscow, 123242, Russia.
| | - Anna V Klenova
- Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Vorobievy Gory, 1/12, Moscow, 119234, Russia
| | - Olga G Ilchenko
- Scientific Research Department, Moscow Zoo, B. Gruzinskaya, 1, Moscow, 123242, Russia
| | - Elena V Volodina
- Scientific Research Department, Moscow Zoo, B. Gruzinskaya, 1, Moscow, 123242, Russia
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Charlton PE, Schatz KC, Burke K, Paul MJ, Dent ML. Sex differences in auditory brainstem response audiograms from vasopressin-deficient Brattleboro and wild-type Long-Evans rats. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0222096. [PMID: 31469871 PMCID: PMC6716658 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0222096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2019] [Accepted: 08/21/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Rats are highly social creatures that produce ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) during social interactions. Brattleboro rats, a Long-Evans derived rat that lacks vasopressin (AVP) due to a mutation in the Avp gene, exhibit atypical social behavior, including fewer USVs with altered spectrotemporal characteristics during social interactions. It is unclear why Brattleboro rats produce atypical USVs, but one factor could be differences in auditory acuity between them and wild-type Long Evans rats with functional vasopressin. Previous studies have suggested a link between increased levels of AVP and auditory processing. Additionally, few studies have investigated sex differences in auditory perception by Long-Evans rats. Sex differences in auditory acuity have been found throughout the animal kingdom, but have not yet been demonstrated in rat audiograms. This study aimed to measure auditory brainstem response (ABR) derived audiograms for frequencies ranging from 1 to 64 kHz in male and female homozygous Brattleboro (Hom), heterozygous Brattleboro (Het), and wild-type (WT) Long-Evans rats to better understand the role of AVP and sex differences in auditory processing by these rats. We failed to detect significant differences between the ABR audiograms of Hom, Het, and WT Long-Evans rats, suggesting that varying levels of AVP do not affect auditory processing. Interestingly, males and females of all genotypes did differ in their ABR thresholds, with males exhibiting higher thresholds than females. The sex differences in auditory acuity were significant at the lowest and highest frequencies, possibly affecting the perception of USVs. These are the first known sex differences in rat audiograms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Payton E. Charlton
- Department of Psychology, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, New York, United States of America
| | - Kelcie C. Schatz
- Department of Psychology, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, New York, United States of America
| | - Kali Burke
- Department of Psychology, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, New York, United States of America
| | - Matthew J. Paul
- Department of Psychology, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, New York, United States of America
| | - Micheal L. Dent
- Department of Psychology, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, New York, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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11
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Zaytseva AS, Volodin IA, Ilchenko OG, Volodina EV. Ultrasonic vocalization of pup and adult fat-tailed gerbils (Pachyuromys duprasi). PLoS One 2019; 14:e0219749. [PMID: 31356642 PMCID: PMC6663002 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0219749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2019] [Accepted: 07/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) of laboratory rodents indicate animal emotional arousal and may serve as models of human disorders. We analysed spectrographically USV calls of pup and adult fat-tailed gerbils Pachyuromys duprasi during 420-s tests, including isolation, touch and handling. Based on combination of six different USV syllable contour shapes and six different note compositions, we classified 782 USV syllables of 24 pups aged 5-10 days to 18 types and 232 syllables of 7 adults to 24 types. Pups and adults shared 16 of these 26 USV types. Percentages of USV syllables with certain contour shapes differed between pups and adults. The contour shape and note composition significantly affected most acoustic variables of USV syllables in either pups or adults. The 1-note USV syllables were most common in either pups or adults. Pup USV syllables were overall longer and higher-frequency than adult ones, reminiscent of the USV ontogenetic pathway of bats and distinctive to rats and mice. We discuss that the USV syllable types of fat-tailed gerbils were generally similar in contour shapes and note compositions with USV syllable types of mice and rats, what means that software developed for automated classifying of mice ultrasound might be easily adapted or re-tuned to gerbil USV calls. However, using fat-tailed gerbils as model for biomedical research including control of USV vocalization is only possible since 6th day of pup life, because of the delayed emergence of USV calls in ontogeny of this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra S. Zaytseva
- Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
- Scientific Research Department, Moscow Zoo, Moscow, Russia
| | - Ilya A. Volodin
- Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
- Scientific Research Department, Moscow Zoo, Moscow, Russia
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Topper VY, Reilly MP, Wagner LM, Thompson LM, Gillette R, Crews D, Gore AC. Social and neuromolecular phenotypes are programmed by prenatal exposures to endocrine-disrupting chemicals. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2019; 479:133-146. [PMID: 30287398 PMCID: PMC6263824 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2018.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2018] [Revised: 08/25/2018] [Accepted: 09/28/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Exposures to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) affect the development of hormone-sensitive neural circuits, the proper organization of which are necessary for the manifestation of appropriate adult social and sexual behaviors. We examined whether prenatal exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), a family of ubiquitous industrial contaminants detectable in virtually all humans and wildlife, caused changes in sexually-dimorphic social interactions and communications, and profiled the underlying neuromolecular phenotype. Rats were treated with a PCB commercial mixture, Aroclor 1221 (A1221), estradiol benzoate (EB) as a positive control for estrogenic effects of A1221, or the vehicle (4% DMSO), on embryonic day (E) 16 and 18. In adult F1 offspring, we first conducted tests of ultrasonic vocalization (USV) calls in a sociosexual context as a measure of motivated communications. Numbers of certain USV call types were significantly increased by prenatal treatment with A1221 in males, and decreased by EB in females. In a test of sociosexual preference for a hormone-vs. a non-hormone-primed opposite sex conspecific, male (but not female) nose-touching with opposite-sex rats was significantly diminished by EDCs. Gene expression profiling was conducted in two brain regions that are part of the social decision-making network in the brain: the medial preoptic nucleus (MPN) and the ventromedial nucleus (VMN). In both regions, many more genes were affected by A1221 or EB in females than males. In female MPN, A1221 changed expression of steroid hormone receptor and neuropeptide genes (e.g., Ar, Esr1, Esr2, and Kiss1). In male MPN, only Per2 was affected by A1221. The VMN had a number of genes affected by EB compared to vehicle (females: Kiss1, Kiss1r, Pgr; males: Crh) but not A1221. These differences between EB and A1221 indicate that the mechanism of action of A1221 goes beyond estrogenic pathways. These data show sex-specific effects of prenatal PCBs on adult behaviors and the neuromolecular phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viktoria Y Topper
- The Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Michael P Reilly
- Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Lauren M Wagner
- Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Lindsay M Thompson
- Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Ross Gillette
- The Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - David Crews
- The Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA; Department of Integrative Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Andrea C Gore
- The Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA; Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA.
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Simola N, Granon S. Ultrasonic vocalizations as a tool in studying emotional states in rodent models of social behavior and brain disease. Neuropharmacology 2018; 159:107420. [PMID: 30445100 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2018.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2018] [Revised: 11/05/2018] [Accepted: 11/08/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Rodents emit ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) to communicate the presence of positive or negative emotional states and to coordinate social interactions. On this basis, USVs are increasingly being used as a behavioral readout in rodent studies of affect, motivation and social behavior. Notably, several investigations have demonstrated that rodents emit USVs when tested in experimental paradigms that are used in preclinical studies of psychiatric and neurological diseases. Moreover, it has been shown that calling behavior may be influenced by genetic and/or environmental factors (i.e., stress), early rearing conditions that have been implicated in brain disease, as well as psychoactive drugs. Hence, measuring USV emissions has emerged as a useful tool in studying the mechanisms that underlie the emotional disturbances featuring certain brain diseases, as well as in the development of suited pharmacological therapies. This review provides an overview of the behavioral significance of USV emissions and describes the contexts that promote calling behavior in rats and mice. Moreover, the review summarizes the current evidence concerning the use of USVs as a marker of affect in rat and mouse models of sociability, psychiatric diseases and neurological diseases, and discusses the strengths and current limitations of using USVs as a behavioral readout in rodent studies of emotional behavior. This article is part of the Special Issue entitled 'The neuropharmacology of social behavior: from bench to bedside'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Simola
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Section of Neuroscience, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
| | - Sylvie Granon
- Neurobiology of Decision Making, Institute of Neuroscience Paris-Saclay, UMR9197, Université Paris-Sud, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Orsay, France
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Fernández-Vargas M. Presence of a potential competitor and its individual identity modulate ultrasonic vocalizations in male hamsters. Anim Behav 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2018.08.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
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16
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Warren MR, Spurrier MS, Roth ED, Neunuebel JP. Sex differences in vocal communication of freely interacting adult mice depend upon behavioral context. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0204527. [PMID: 30240434 PMCID: PMC6150532 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0204527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2018] [Accepted: 09/10/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) are believed to play a critical role in mouse communication. Although mice produce USVs in multiple contexts, signals emitted in reproductive contexts are typically attributed solely to the male mouse. Only recently has evidence emerged showing that female mice are also vocally active during mixed-sex interactions. Therefore, this study aimed to systematically quantify and compare vocalizations emitted by female and male mice as the animals freely interacted. Using an eight-channel microphone array to determine which mouse emitted specific vocalizations during unrestrained social interaction, we recorded 13 mixed-sex pairs of mice. We report here that females vocalized significantly less often than males during dyadic interactions, with females accounting for approximately one sixth of all emitted signals. Moreover, the acoustic features of female and male signals differed. We found that the bandwidths (i.e., the range of frequencies that a signal spanned) of female-emitted signals were smaller than signals produced by males. When examining how the frequency of each signal changed over time, the slopes of male-emitted signals decreased more rapidly than female signals. Further, we revealed notable differences between male and female vocal signals when the animals were performing the same behaviors. Our study provides evidence that a female mouse does in fact vocalize during interactions with a male and that the acoustic features of female and male vocalizations differ during specific behavioral contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan R. Warren
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, United States of America
| | - Morgan S. Spurrier
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, United States of America
| | - Eric D. Roth
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, United States of America
| | - Joshua P. Neunuebel
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, United States of America
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Volodin IA, Panyutina AA, Abramov AV, Ilchenko OG, Volodina EV. Ultrasonic bouts of a blind climbing rodent (Typhlomys chapensis): acoustic analysis. BIOACOUSTICS 2018. [DOI: 10.1080/09524622.2018.1509374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ilya A. Volodin
- Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
- Scientific Research Department, Moscow Zoo, Moscow, Russia
| | | | - Alexei V. Abramov
- Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Saint Petersburg, Russia
- Joint Vietnam–Russian Tropical Research and Technological Centre, Nguyen Van Huyen, Hanoi, Vietnam
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18
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The function of ultrasonic vocalizations during territorial defence by pair-bonded male and female California mice. Anim Behav 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2017.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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Walter MH, Schnitzler HU. Spectral call features provide information about the aggression level of greater mouse-eared bats (Myotis myotis) during agonistic interactions. BIOACOUSTICS 2017. [DOI: 10.1080/09524622.2017.1359798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Michael H. Walter
- Animal Physiology, Institute for Neurobiology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Hans-Ulrich Schnitzler
- Animal Physiology, Institute for Neurobiology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
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Fernández-Vargas M. Rapid effects of estrogens and androgens on temporal and spectral features in ultrasonic vocalizations. Horm Behav 2017; 94:69-83. [PMID: 28687274 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2017.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2016] [Revised: 04/24/2017] [Accepted: 06/29/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Zaytseva AS, Volodin IA, Ilchenko OG, Volodina EV. Discomfort-related changes in pup ultrasonic calls of fat-tailed gerbils Pachyuromys duprasi. BIOACOUSTICS 2016. [DOI: 10.1080/09524622.2016.1164076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra S. Zaytseva
- Faculty of Biology, Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
- Scientific Research Department, Moscow Zoo, Moscow, Russia
| | - Ilya A. Volodin
- Faculty of Biology, Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
- Scientific Research Department, Moscow Zoo, Moscow, Russia
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