@article {57587, title = {Association of medial corticostriatal regions with amphetamine-induced emission of 50 kHz vocalizations as studied by Zif-268 expression in the rat brain}, year = {2020}, abstract = {

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.

}, keywords = {50 kHz calls, D-amphetamine, Ergometric activity, Immediate early gene, Ultrasonic vocalizations, Zif-268}, doi = {10.1016/j.brainres.2019.146505}, author = {Mulvihill, Kevin G. and Brudzynski, Stefan M.} } @article {57353, title = {Social experience during adolescence in female rats increases 50~kHz ultrasonic vocalizations in adulthood, without affecting anxiety-like behavior}, journal = {Developmental Psychobiology}, year = {2019}, month = {Jul-08-2020}, abstract = {

Adolescents are highly motivated to engage in social interactions, and researchers have hypothesized that positive social relationships during adolescence can have long term, beneficial effects on stress reactivity and mental well-being. Studies of laboratory rodents provide the opportunity to investigate the relationship between early social experiences and later behavioral and physiological responses to stressors. In this study, female Lister-hooded rats (N = 12 per group) were either (a) provided with short, daily encounters (10 min/day) with a novel partner during mid-adolescence (postnatal day 34\–45; \“social experience,\” SE, subjects) or (b) underwent the same protocol with a familiar cagemate during mid-adolescence (\“control experience,\” CE, subjects), or (c) were left undisturbed in the home cage (non-handled \“control,\” C, subjects). When tested in adulthood, the groups did not differ in behavioral responses to novel environments (elevated plus maze, open field, and light-dark box) or in behavioral and physiological (urinary corticosterone) responses to novel social partners. However, SE females emitted significantly more 50 kHz ultrasonic vocalizations than control subjects both before and after social separation from a familiar social partner, which is consistent with previous findings in male rats. Thus, enhanced adolescent social experience appears to have long-term effects on vocal communication and could potentially modulate adult social relationships.

}, keywords = {adolescence, glucocorticoids, neophobia, social novelty, Ultrasonic vocalizations}, issn = {0012-1630}, doi = {10.1002/dev.21906}, url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/dev.21906https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/dev.21906https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/dev.21906https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full-xml/10.1002/dev.21906}, author = {Emmerson, Michael G. and Spencer, Karen A. and Brown, Gillian R.} } @article {53326, title = {Vocal Signals of Sexual Motivation in Male and Female Rodents}, journal = {Current Sexual Health Reports}, year = {2018}, month = {Jan-10-2020}, abstract = {

Purpose of the Review

Rodents produce ultrasonic vocalizations (USV) under different social contexts, including courtship and reproduction. The present review aims to summarize the behavioral, bioacoustical, and physiological evidence that USV are reliable signals of sexual motivation in both male and female rodents.

Recent Findings

USV are actively produced by both sexes during sexual interactions, contrary to earlier assumptions. Male-typical and female-typical vocal behaviors can be identified. Calling rates and acoustic parameters, such as call duration, frequency, and energy, can be modulated rapidly over time by motivational state and sexual context. USV produced in response to sexual context could be regulated by the brain on a moment-to-moment basis through non-classical mechanisms of steroid action. Finally, I provide some practical considerations for the acoustic and statistical analyses of these vocal signals.

Summary

USV can be used as signals of sexual motivation in both sexes to study brain and hormonal mechanisms underlying sexual behavior or sexual differentiation.

}, keywords = {bioacoustics, communication, Golden hamsters, House mouse, Nongenomic steroid action, Rats, Rodents, Sex steroids, Sexual behavior, Sexual motivation, Syrian hamsters, Ultrasonic vocalizations}, issn = {1548-3584}, doi = {10.1007/s11930-018-0179-9}, url = {http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11930-018-0179-9}, author = {Fern{\'a}ndez-Vargas, Marcela} }