Stress-Induced Ultrasonic Vocalization in Laboratory Rats and Mice: A Scoping Review

<b>Introduction</b>: Ultrasonic vocalization (USV) can indicate affective states—including psychosocial stress—in mice and rats. However, stress-induced USV changes could be confounded by laboratory experimental variables such as the type of behavioral stress paradigm, the elicitation me...

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Main Authors: Anumitha Venkatraman, Michelle Bretl, Se-in Kim, Leslie Christensen, Cynthia A. Kelm-Nelson, Michelle R. Ciucci, Susan L. Thibeault
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-10-01
Series:Brain Sciences
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/14/11/1109
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author Anumitha Venkatraman
Michelle Bretl
Se-in Kim
Leslie Christensen
Cynthia A. Kelm-Nelson
Michelle R. Ciucci
Susan L. Thibeault
author_facet Anumitha Venkatraman
Michelle Bretl
Se-in Kim
Leslie Christensen
Cynthia A. Kelm-Nelson
Michelle R. Ciucci
Susan L. Thibeault
author_sort Anumitha Venkatraman
collection DOAJ
description <b>Introduction</b>: Ultrasonic vocalization (USV) can indicate affective states—including psychosocial stress—in mice and rats. However, stress-induced USV changes could be confounded by laboratory experimental variables such as the type of behavioral stress paradigm, the elicitation method, rodent strain, etc. We sought to provide a review of the current literature to delineate how psychosocial stress-altered rodent USVs may be affected by factors of age, sex, strain, species, elicitation paradigm, and stressor. <b>Methods</b>: We used PubMed, Scopus (Elsevier), PsycINFO (EBSCO), and the following Web of Science (Clarivate) databases: Biological Abstracts, CAB Abstracts, Science Citation Index-Expanded, and Emerging Sources Citation Index. The studies identified by our search strategy were independently screened by two authors with the following inclusion criteria: peer-reviewed, in English, reported original data, and described USV in response to stress in rats or mice. The data extracted included USV acoustic parameters (mean peak frequency and mean amplitude (loudness)), details of the stress and USV elicitation paradigms, rodent species, age, and sex variables. <b>Results</b>: The following screening of 5309 titles/abstracts and 687 full-text articles revealed 148 articles. Footshock (20%), cold exposure (14%), and maternal separation (23.5%) were the most commonly used stress paradigms (duration and type of stressor varied across studies), with the total number of USV calls being the most commonly reported acoustic outcome. In rats, 121 articles described stress-altered USVs, while 25 studies reported the same in mice, and two reported multiple rodent species (rats and mice, alongside other rodent species such as gerbils). With respect to stress-altered USV changes with age, mice and rats increase USV rates after birth, with a peak around 6 to 10 days, and decrease USVs until weanling age. Of the five studies that reported sex-related differences in stress-induced USVs, females had an increased number of calls and lower average peak frequency in response to stress when compared to males. Only two to four studies reported strain-related differences in stress-induced vocalizations in rats and mice, respectively. <b>Conclusions</b>: The data from this review lay the groundwork for better understanding rodent USVs in response to psychosocial stress with effects of elicitation paradigm, stressor, age, and sex.
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spelling doaj-art-4b382de9fcab4a0e8ef4f1fd6dd1e28a2024-11-26T17:55:00ZengMDPI AGBrain Sciences2076-34252024-10-011411110910.3390/brainsci14111109Stress-Induced Ultrasonic Vocalization in Laboratory Rats and Mice: A Scoping ReviewAnumitha Venkatraman0Michelle Bretl1Se-in Kim2Leslie Christensen3Cynthia A. Kelm-Nelson4Michelle R. Ciucci5Susan L. Thibeault6Division of Otolaryngology—Head & Neck Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USADivision of Otolaryngology—Head & Neck Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USADivision of Otolaryngology—Head & Neck Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USAEbling Library for the Health Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USADivision of Otolaryngology—Head & Neck Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USADivision of Otolaryngology—Head & Neck Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USADivision of Otolaryngology—Head & Neck Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA<b>Introduction</b>: Ultrasonic vocalization (USV) can indicate affective states—including psychosocial stress—in mice and rats. However, stress-induced USV changes could be confounded by laboratory experimental variables such as the type of behavioral stress paradigm, the elicitation method, rodent strain, etc. We sought to provide a review of the current literature to delineate how psychosocial stress-altered rodent USVs may be affected by factors of age, sex, strain, species, elicitation paradigm, and stressor. <b>Methods</b>: We used PubMed, Scopus (Elsevier), PsycINFO (EBSCO), and the following Web of Science (Clarivate) databases: Biological Abstracts, CAB Abstracts, Science Citation Index-Expanded, and Emerging Sources Citation Index. The studies identified by our search strategy were independently screened by two authors with the following inclusion criteria: peer-reviewed, in English, reported original data, and described USV in response to stress in rats or mice. The data extracted included USV acoustic parameters (mean peak frequency and mean amplitude (loudness)), details of the stress and USV elicitation paradigms, rodent species, age, and sex variables. <b>Results</b>: The following screening of 5309 titles/abstracts and 687 full-text articles revealed 148 articles. Footshock (20%), cold exposure (14%), and maternal separation (23.5%) were the most commonly used stress paradigms (duration and type of stressor varied across studies), with the total number of USV calls being the most commonly reported acoustic outcome. In rats, 121 articles described stress-altered USVs, while 25 studies reported the same in mice, and two reported multiple rodent species (rats and mice, alongside other rodent species such as gerbils). With respect to stress-altered USV changes with age, mice and rats increase USV rates after birth, with a peak around 6 to 10 days, and decrease USVs until weanling age. Of the five studies that reported sex-related differences in stress-induced USVs, females had an increased number of calls and lower average peak frequency in response to stress when compared to males. Only two to four studies reported strain-related differences in stress-induced vocalizations in rats and mice, respectively. <b>Conclusions</b>: The data from this review lay the groundwork for better understanding rodent USVs in response to psychosocial stress with effects of elicitation paradigm, stressor, age, and sex.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/14/11/1109stressultrasonic vocalizationstress paradigmratmouse
spellingShingle Anumitha Venkatraman
Michelle Bretl
Se-in Kim
Leslie Christensen
Cynthia A. Kelm-Nelson
Michelle R. Ciucci
Susan L. Thibeault
Stress-Induced Ultrasonic Vocalization in Laboratory Rats and Mice: A Scoping Review
Brain Sciences
stress
ultrasonic vocalization
stress paradigm
rat
mouse
title Stress-Induced Ultrasonic Vocalization in Laboratory Rats and Mice: A Scoping Review
title_full Stress-Induced Ultrasonic Vocalization in Laboratory Rats and Mice: A Scoping Review
title_fullStr Stress-Induced Ultrasonic Vocalization in Laboratory Rats and Mice: A Scoping Review
title_full_unstemmed Stress-Induced Ultrasonic Vocalization in Laboratory Rats and Mice: A Scoping Review
title_short Stress-Induced Ultrasonic Vocalization in Laboratory Rats and Mice: A Scoping Review
title_sort stress induced ultrasonic vocalization in laboratory rats and mice a scoping review
topic stress
ultrasonic vocalization
stress paradigm
rat
mouse
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/14/11/1109
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