02831nas a2200229 4500008004100000245014500041210006900186520200300255653002302258653002402281653001502305653002602320653002502346653002902371653000802400653001702408100002102425700002902446700002002475700002102495856008502516 2020 eng d00aUltrasonic vocalizations in house mice depend upon genetic relatedness of mating partners and correlate with subsequent reproductive success0 aUltrasonic vocalizations in house mice depend upon genetic relat3 a

Background
Courtship vocalizations are used by males of many species to attract and influence the behavior of potential mating partners. Our aim here was to investigate the modulation and reproductive consequences of courtship ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) in wild-derived house mice (Mus musculus musculus). The courtship USVs of male mice are surprisingly complex and are composed of a variety of different syllable types. Our specific aims were to test whether (1) the emission of courtship USVs depends upon the kinship of a potential mating partner, and (2) whether USV emission during courtship affects the pairs’ subsequent reproductive success.

Results
We experimentally presented males with an unfamiliar female that was either genetically related or unrelated, and we recorded USV emission, first while the sexes were separated by a perforated partition and then during direct interactions, after removing the partition. USVs were detected by the Automatic Mouse Ultrasound Detector (A-MUD) and manually classified into 15 syllable types. The mice were kept together to test whether and how courtship vocalizations predict their subsequent reproductive success. We found that the mice significantly increased their amount of vocalizations (vocal performance) and number of syllable types (vocal repertoire) after the partition was removed and they began interacting directly. We show that unrelated pairs emitted longer and more complex USVs compared to related pairs during direct interactions. Unrelated pairs also had a greater reproductive success compared to related pairs, and in addition we found a negative correlation between the mean length and amount of vocalizations with the latency to their first litter.

Conclusion
Our study provides evidence that house mice modulate the emission of courtship USVs depending upon the kinship of potential mating partners, and that courtship USVs correlate with reproductive success.

10aAdaptive functions10aGenetic relatedness10aHouse mice10aMus musculus musculus10areproductive success10aUltrasonic vocalizations10aUSV10aWild derived1 aNicolakis, Doris1 aMarconi, Maria, Adelaide1 aZala, Sarah, M.1 aPenn, Dustin, J. uhttps://frontiersinzoology.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12983-020-00353-102339nas a2200181 4500008004100000245016000041210006900201520166700270653001901937653001801956653002401974653002501998653002902023653001202052100002502064700002702089856004102116 2020 eng d00aAssociation of medial corticostriatal regions with amphetamine-induced emission of 50 kHz vocalizations as studied by Zif-268 expression in the rat brain0 aAssociation of medial corticostriatal regions with amphetaminein3 a

Behavioural sensitization of locomotion and 50 kHz ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) following repeated amphetamine (AMPH) injections in rats has been extensively demonstrated. These two behaviours appear dissociable in their sensitization patterns and are thought to be reflective of underlying emotional states of the organism. Although AMPH is often used to induce 50 kHz USVs there is little research to date on the extent of cortical and subcortical forebrain region involvement in 50 kHz call production associated with the drug. Nor has general ergometric activity (a measure that in addition to locomotor activity includes all major muscular activity of the body) been investigated in such a framework. The present study sought to address this by performing a minimal sensitization protocol, utilizing only two injections, to investigate expression of the inducible transcription factor Zif-268 (Zif) among brain regions thought to be associated with 50 kHz USV emission. It was found that animals that spent a longer time emitting 50 kHz calls after a second AMPH injection showed statistically significant correlative patterns of Zif expression in medial prefrontal and striatal regions. These associations were not significant in animals that spent a shorter period of time calling after AMPH. There was also no significant correlation between any ergometric activity and time spent calling. The results provide evidence that the medial prefrontal cortices (prelimbic and infralimbic regions) of the rat may be involved with 50 kHz USV emission induced by AMPH in association with medial portions of the ventral and dorsal striatum.

10a50 kHz calls10aD-amphetamine10aErgometric activity10aImmediate early gene10aUltrasonic vocalizations10aZif-2681 aMulvihill, Kevin, G.1 aBrudzynski, Stefan, M. uhttps://bio.acousti.ca/it/node/57587