Altered ultrasonic vocalization in neonatal SAPAP3-deficient mice. Issue 17 (6th December 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tesdahl, Natalya S.; King, Danielle K.; McDaniel, Latisha N.; Pieper, Andrew A.
• Is Part Of: NeuroReport. Volume 28:Issue 17(2017)
• Publication Date: 2017-12-06
• Subjects: development -- DLGAP3 -- GKAP3 -- SAPAP3 -- ultrasonic vocalization; Neurosciences -- Periodicals; Nervous system -- Periodicals; Neurophysiology -- Periodicals; Nervous System Diseases -- Periodicals; Nervous System Physiological Phenomena -- Periodicals; Neurosciences -- Periodicals; 616.805
• DOI: 10.1097/WNR.0000000000000863
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0959-4965

Abstract

Abstract : Ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) in neonatal mice provide a means of modeling communication deficits in neurodevelopmental disorders. Mature mice deficient in SAP90/PSD95-associated protein 3 (SAPAP3) display compulsive grooming and anxiety-like behavior, conditions that are often associated with neurodevelopmental disorders. To date, however, aspects of neurodevelopment have not been investigated in SAPAP3-deficient mice. Here, we examined whether neonatal SAPAP3-deficient mice display altered USVs. We recorded USVs from 5-day-old sapap3 +/+ and sapap3 −/− mice, and also monitored developmental reflexes in these mice during the early postnatal period. Sapap3 −/− mice display an increase in the number and duration of USV calls relative to sapap3 +/+ littermates, despite otherwise similar developmental profiles. Thus, SAPAP3, previously well-characterized for its role in compulsive grooming, also plays a heretofore unidentified role in neonatal communication. Aberrant social communication and compulsive behavior are core symptoms of autism spectrum disorders, and these results show that SAPAP3-deficient mice may serve to model some aspects of these conditions.