Infant rat ultrasonic vocalizations in the neurodevelopmental model of schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is characterized by early brain developmental abnormalities resulting in, among others, compromised communication. Rodent models, such as prenatal exposure to methylazoxymethanol acetate (MAM), help investigate schizophrenia-related deficits. Ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) in rodent pups are a preclinical tool to study social communication. This study examines how prenatal MAM exposure affects the development, structure, and maternal potentiation of USVs. Pregnant rats received MAM or saline on the 17th gestational day. Offspring USVs were recorded upon maternal separation on the 6th, 9th, and 12th postnatal days (PND), while maternal potentiation was tested on the 10th PND. USV characteristics, temporal organization, clustering, and syntax were analyzed by DeepSqueak's machine-learning algorithms. Unlike controls, which showed an increasing USV rate associated with proper vocal development, MAM-exposed pups displayed a stable emission rate across days and emitted fewer USVs on the 12th PND. Maternal potentiation was weak or absent in MAM pups, which also exhibited lower call complexity (reduced bandwidth and frequency) and longer duration. Temporal analysis revealed delayed vocal onset, prolonged inter-call intervals, and disrupted call arrangement. Syntax analysis indicated a simplified transition pattern dominated by low-pitched flat calls. Taken together, prenatal MAM exposure disrupts vocal communication, leading to less complex vocalizations with altered timing and structure. These deficits may serve as early markers of negative-like symptoms or cognitive dysfunctions in schizophrenia.