Status epilepticus induced on postnatal day 7 alters ultrasonic vocalization call types on postnatal days 8 and 9

A single instance of early-life status epilepticus (SE) in neonatal mice results in cognitive and behavioral impairments. The present study investigated the effects of SE on postnatal day (PD) 7 to determine the impact on auditory communication behavior. We used kainic acid to induce SE on PD7 and recorded isolation-induced ultrasonic vocalizations (USV) on PD8 and 9. We found SE did not alter the total number, total duration, average call duration, peak frequency, or low frequency in male and female mice on PD8 or PD9. However, there were sex-specific differences in call types. Female SE mice had an increase in chevron, complex, and upward calls, and a decrease in frequency steps, short, and two-component calls compared to female saline controls on PD8. Females with SE recorded on PD9 had an increase in composite, downward, and flat calls and a decrease in chevron, complex, upward, and frequency steps compared to female saline controls, p < 0.05. Male SE mice that had their USVs recorded on PD8 had an increase in chevron, frequency steps, and two-component calls, and had a decrease in downward, upward, and flat calls compared to male saline controls. In contrast, SE males that had their USVs recorded on PD9 had an increase in downward and short calls, and a decrease in chevron, composite, frequency steps, and two-component calls compared to male saline controls, p < 0.05. This study contributes to a systematic examination of the influence of early-life seizures on communication in mice and the sensitivity of call types in determining deficits.