scholarly journals An acute dose of intranasal oxytocin rapidly increases maternal communication and maintains maternal care in primiparous postpartum California mice

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caleigh D. Guoynes ◽  
Catherine A. Marler
Keyword(s):  
Maternal Care ◽  
Behavioral Changes ◽  
Ultrasonic Vocalizations ◽  
Wire Mesh ◽  
Offspring Survival ◽  
Testing Chamber ◽  
Normal Increase ◽  
Physical Access ◽  
California Mice ◽  
Separation Test

AbstractMaternal-offspring communication and care are essential for offspring survival. Oxytocin (OXT) is known for its role in initiation of maternal care, but whether OXT can rapidly influence maternal behavior or ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs; above 50 kHz) has not been examined. To test for rapid effects of OXT, California mouse mothers were administered an acute intranasal (IN) dose of OXT (0.8 IU/kg) followed by a separation test with three phases: habituation with pups in a new testing chamber, separation via a wire mesh, and finally reunion with pups. We measured maternal care, maternal USVs, and pup USVs. In mothers, we primarily observed simple sweep USVs, a short downward sweeping call around 50 kHz, and in pups we only observed pup whines, a long call with multiple harmonics ranging from 20 kHz to 50 kHz. We found that IN OXT rapidly and selectively enhanced the normal increase in maternal simple sweep USVs when mothers had physical access to pups (habituation and reunion), but not when mothers were physically separated from pups. Maternal-pup USVs were correlated upon reunion, but IN OXT did not influence this correlation. Finally, mothers given IN OXT showed a more positive change in retrievals/carrying and greater total maternal care upon reunion. Behavioral changes were specific to maternal behaviors (e.g. retrievals) as mothers given IN OXT did not differ from controls in stress-related behaviors (e.g. freezing). Overall, these findings highlight the rapid effects and context-dependent effect a single dose of IN OXT has on both maternal USV production and offspring care.

scholarly journals An acute dose of intranasal oxytocin rapidly increases maternal communication and maintains maternal care in primiparous postpartum California mice

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. e0244033
Author(s):  
Caleigh D. Guoynes ◽  
Catherine A. Marler
Keyword(s):  
Maternal Care ◽  
Behavioral Changes ◽  
Wire Mesh ◽  
Offspring Survival ◽  
Testing Chamber ◽  
Pup Retrieval ◽  
Normal Increase ◽  
Physical Access ◽  
California Mice ◽  
Separation Test

Maternal-offspring communication and care are essential for offspring survival. Oxytocin (OXT) is known for its role in initiation of maternal care, but whether OXT can rapidly influence maternal behavior or ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs; above 50 kHz) has not been examined. To test for rapid effects of OXT, California mouse mothers were administered an acute intranasal (IN) dose of OXT (0.8 IU/kg) or saline followed by a separation test with three phases: habituation with pups in a new testing chamber, separation via a wire mesh, and finally reunion with pups. We measured maternal care, maternal USVs, and pup USVs. In mothers, we primarily observed simple sweep USVs, a short downward sweeping call around 50 kHz, and in pups we only observed pup whines, a long call with multiple harmonics ranging from 20 kHz to 50 kHz. We found that IN OXT rapidly and selectively enhanced the normal increase in maternal simple sweep USVs when mothers had physical access to pups (habituation and reunion), but not when mothers were physically separated from pups. Frequency of mothers’ and pups’ USVs were correlated upon reunion, but IN OXT did not influence this correlation. Finally, mothers given IN OXT showed more efficient pup retrieval/carrying and greater total maternal care upon reunion. Behavioral changes were specific to maternal behaviors (e.g. retrievals) as mothers given IN OXT did not differ from controls in stress-related behaviors (e.g. freezing). Overall, these findings highlight the rapid effects and context-dependent effect a single treatment with IN OXT has on both maternal USV production and offspring care.

The Ontogeny of Ultrasonic Vocalization in Microtus Montanus

Behaviour ◽  
1977 ◽  
Vol 60 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 115-121 ◽  
Author(s):  
V.J. De Ghett
Keyword(s):  
Short Duration ◽  
Maternal Care ◽  
Ultrasonic Vocalization ◽  
Ultrasonic Vocalizations ◽  
Developmental Changes ◽  
Maternal Behaviour ◽  
Postnatal Ontogeny ◽  
Microtus Montanus ◽  
Early Peak ◽  
The Mean

AbstractDevelopmental changes in parameters of ultrasound production were investigated in M. montanus young. The rate of ultrasonic vocalization reached a peak on Day 2 of postnatal ontogeny and declined to zero on Day 15. A similar developmental pattern has been found in several other rodent species. However, the comparatively early peak rate is indicative of a degree of ontogenic precociousness. Other developmental changes, both behavioural and morphological, tend to confirm that M. montanus young are relatively precocious. The duration of ultrasonic vocalizations did not show a significant change across early development. The mean duration for each vocalization sampled was 22.92 msec. The distribution of these vocalizations showed that a considerable number of vocalizations were of very short duration (<30 msec). The developmental changes in the percentage of young emitting ultrasounds began to decline following Day 8 and reached zero percent on Day 15. This decline in the percentage of young vocalizing corresponded to changes in maternal behaviour. Both the rate of ultrasonic vocalization and the percentage of young vocalizing were significantly correlated with the age of the young. Being correlated with age, these parameters of ultrasound production have the possibility of having great communicative value for the purposes of maternal care.

scholarly journals Differences in Ultrasonic Vocalizations between Wild and Laboratory California Mice (Peromyscus californicus)

PLoS ONE ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. e9705 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matina C. Kalcounis-Rueppell ◽  
Radmila Petric ◽  
Jessica R. Briggs ◽  
Catherine Carney ◽  
Matthew M. Marshall ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ultrasonic Vocalizations ◽  
Peromyscus Californicus ◽  
California Mice

scholarly journals Changes in Behavior and Ultrasonic Vocalizations During Pair Bonding and in Response to an Infidelity Challenge in Monogamous California Mice

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua D. Pultorak ◽  
Sarah J. Alger ◽  
Steven O. Loria ◽  
Aaron M. Johnson ◽  
Catherine A. Marler
Keyword(s):  
Ultrasonic Vocalizations ◽  
Pair Bonding ◽  
California Mice

scholarly journals CD-1 Outbred Mice Produce Less Variable Ultrasonic Vocalizations Than FVB Inbred Mice, While Displaying a Similar Developmental Trajectory

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew S. Binder ◽  
Hannah D. Shi ◽  
Angelique Bordey
Keyword(s):  
Maternal Care ◽  
Inbred Mice ◽  
Mean Amplitude ◽  
Developmental Trajectory ◽  
Ultrasonic Vocalizations ◽  
Neurological Deficits ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Outbred Mice ◽  
Cd1 Mice ◽  
Relative Variability

The production of ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) in neonatal mice is a critical means of communication that is used to elicit maternal care. Alterations in neonatal USV production is also an indicator of neurological deficits. However, USVs have been predominately assessed in inbred animals and are significantly understudied in outbred mice, even though outbred animals better represent the genetic diversity of humans and are used in several neurological disorder models. To determine the reproducibility of USVs across models, we compared male and female CD-1 (outbred) and FVB (inbred) mice on postnatal days (PD) 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20. We found that CD-1 and FVB mice displayed a similar developmental trajectory of USVs. However, CD1 mice emitted more USVs on PD 12 than FVB mice. In addition, FVB mice emitted a longer duration of calls on PD 4 and 8 and a higher overall maximum and minimum frequency of USVs than CD-1 mice. No differences in mean amplitude were found between groups. We also detected numerous significant differences between outbred and inbred mice when comparing each group's call composition. We next assessed the relative variability of mouse vocalizations between groups, finding that outbred mice were less variable than inbred mice. For the spectral and temporal characteristics of the USVs, variability was similar between groups. Altogether, we found that CD-1 outbred mice display a similar, if not lower, degree of variability than FVB inbred mice when assessing neonatal USVs.

scholarly journals Non-genomic transmission of paternal behaviour between fathers and sons in the monogamous and biparental California mouse

2013 ◽  
Vol 280 (1763) ◽  
pp. 20130824 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erin D. Gleason ◽  
Catherine A. Marler
Keyword(s):  
Well Being ◽  
Future Generations ◽  
Maternal Behaviour ◽  
Offspring Survival ◽  
Behavioural Development ◽  
Adult Sons ◽  
Peromyscus Californicus ◽  
Fathers And Sons ◽  
California Mice ◽  
Health And Well Being

Maternal behaviour has profound, long-lasting implications for the health and well-being of developing offspring. In the monogamous California mouse ( Peromyscus californicus ), care by both parents is critical for offspring survival. We tested the hypothesis that similar to maternal care in rodents, paternal huddling and grooming (HG) behaviour can be transmitted to future generations via behavioural mechanisms. In California mice, testosterone maintains paternal HG behaviour. In the present study, we randomly assigned a group of male California mice to castration or sham-operated conditions and allowed them to raise their offspring normally. Adult sons of these males were paired with a female, and they were observed interacting with their own offspring. We found that like their fathers, the sons of castrated males huddled and groomed their young at lower levels than the sons of sham-operated fathers. The sons of castrates also retrieved pups more frequently. When both parents were present, the sons of castrates also showed a trend towards engaging in less exploratory behaviour. These data support the hypothesis that paternal behaviour, like maternal behaviour, can be transferred to future generations via epigenetic mechanisms and suggest that in a biparental species both parents contribute to offspring behavioural development.

scholarly journals Neurotoxicity and Behavioral Changes Following Sub-Chronic Administration of Aqueous Extract of Erythrophleum Ivorense Stem Bark in Mice

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Olamide Adebiyi ◽  
◽  
Oluwasina Ajayi ◽  
Funmilayo Olopade ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Grip Strength ◽  
Purkinje Cells ◽  
Morris Water Maze ◽  
Aqueous Extract ◽  
Water Maze ◽  
Motor Coordination ◽  
Behavioral Changes ◽  
Wire Mesh ◽  
Morris Water Maze Test ◽  
Dependent Manner

Erythrophleum ivorense (EI) is a tree found across tropical Africa. The bark of EI is widely used as hunting poisons for animals and ordeal poison in humans. Ingestion of this plant causes paralysis, respiratory distress and amnesia. In folklore, these behavioral changes have been attributed to guilt in victims; nonetheless, scientific evidence in support of this claim does not exist. Thus, there is the need to validate the mechanism of neurotoxicity and behavioral alteration of this plant. Methods: BALB/c male mice (n=48) were randomly divided into four groups. The test groups were administered aqueous extract of EI in a single daily graded doses (5, 10 and 15 mg/kg according to the body weight) for a duration 28 days while the control received distilled water. Motor coordination, learning, memory and grip strength was thereafter accessed with wire grip, Morris water maze and inverted wire mesh grid grip tests respectively. Histological staining of brain sections was also carried out. At all tested doses aqueous extract of EI caused significant reduction in hanging latency, significantly increased escape latency and decreased duration in the target platform during the Morris water maze test relative to the control. Decreased grip strength was also observed in the test groups compared to control. Histology revealed dysmorphic and disoriented Purkinje cells and loss of Purkinje cell layer of the cerebellum. Erythrophleum ivorense administration altered motor coordination, learning and memory and grip strength in mice in a dose-dependent manner. It also caused disruption of granule cells layer, loss of Purkinje cells and altered cerebellar anatomy leading to motor deficits in mice.

Prolonged milk provisioning in a jumping spider

Science ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 362 (6418) ◽  
pp. 1052-1055 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhanqi Chen ◽  
Richard T. Corlett ◽  
Xiaoguo Jiao ◽  
Sheng-Jie Liu ◽  
Tristan Charles-Dominique ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sex Ratio ◽  
Parental Care ◽  
Maternal Care ◽  
Offspring Survival ◽  
Animal Kingdom ◽  
Jumping Spider ◽  
Early Stages ◽  
Adult Sex Ratio ◽  
Sexually Mature

Lactation is a mammalian attribute, and the few known nonmammal examples have distinctly different modalities. We document here milk provisioning in a jumping spider, which compares functionally and behaviorally to lactation in mammals. The spiderlings ingest nutritious milk droplets secreted from the mother’s epigastric furrow until the subadult stage. Milk is indispensable for offspring survival in the early stages and complements their foraging in later stages. Maternal care, as for some long-lived vertebrates, continues after the offspring reach maturity. Furthermore, a female-biased adult sex ratio is acquired only when the mother is present. These findings demonstrate that mammal-like milk provisioning and parental care for sexually mature offspring have also evolved in invertebrates, encouraging a reevaluation of their occurrence across the animal kingdom, especially in invertebrates.

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