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Febrile convulsions affect ultrasonic vocalizations in the rat pup
Avril Keller1, Deborah Saucier, Aaron Sheerin
1Department of Psychology, 9 Campus Drive, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada, SK S7N 5A5.
Insights
Heat-induced convulsions (HC+) in rat pups affected their ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) and mother-pup interactions. HC+ pups showed altered USVs, but dams still interacted similarly, suggesting USVs may signal distress.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Febrile convulsions are common in young children.
- Heat-induced convulsions (HC+) in rat pups can alter adult behavior.
- Neonatal behavioral effects of HC+ remain understudied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of HC+ on neonatal rat pup behavior.
- To examine effects on ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) and mother-pup interactions.
Main Methods:
- Rat pups were subjected to HC+ or control conditions on postnatal day 7 (P7).
- Behaviors, including USVs and mother-pup interactions, were observed on P10 and P12.
- 34 pups were used: 32 controls (HC-) and 2 subjected to HC+.
Main Results:
- HC+ pups exhibited increased vocalizations compared to controls.
- Both HC+ and female pups showed less efficient USVs.
- A trend indicated sex- and treatment-specific interaction patterns between pups and dams.
Conclusions:
- Neonatal HC+ influences rat pup vocalizations and interaction dynamics.
- Dams may differentiate between pups, potentially using USVs as signals.
- Further research is needed to understand the long-term implications of neonatal HC+.
Abstract:
Febrile convulsions are common among preschool children and are studied experimentally with hyperthermia in rat pups. Although heat-induced convulsions (HC+) can affect behaviors in adulthood, to date no one has examined the effects on behavior in the neonatal period. We examined the effects of HC+ on ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) and mother-pup interactions in P10- and P12-aged rat pups. On P7, 34 pups were subjected to HC+ (32 controls, HC-) and behaviors were observed on P10 and P12. For mother-pup interactions, a trend for a sex x treatment interaction was found, with HC- females and HC+ males interacting more often with their dam. Further, HC+ pups vocalized more than controls (HC-) and male pups vocalized more than females. Interestingly, females and HC+ pups displayed less efficient USVs. However, mother-pup interactions did not significantly differ between HC+ and HC- pups, despite greater vocalization. Thus, dams differentiate among their pups, perhaps through USVs.
