Lack of drug- and cue-stimulated emissions of ultrasonic vocalizations in C57BL/6J mice repeatedly treated with amphetamine. (1st April 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Serra, Marcello; Marongiu, Jacopo; Simola, Nicola
• Is Part Of: Neuroscience letters. Volume 749(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-04-01
• Subjects: Conditioning -- Emotional state -- Positive affect -- Reward -- Sensitization; Neurology -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Research -- Periodicals; Neurologie -- Périodiques; Neuroanatomie -- Périodiques; Neuropharmacologie -- Périodiques; Neurophysiologie -- Périodiques; Neurology; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 617.48
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2021.135733
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0304-3940

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: Emission of ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) is a marker of affect in rodents. Amphetamine failed to modify the emission of USVs in C57BL/6J mice. C57BL/6J mice vocalized during social contacts. Amphetamine and social stimuli elicit dissimilar effects on USVs in C57BL/6J mice. These results cast light on the link between drug-induced affect and USVs in mice. Abstract: The emission of ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) is thought to communicate the behavioral and emotional states elicited in rodents by social and non-social stimuli. On this basis, studies of psychopharmacology in rats are increasingly utilizing USVs as a behavioral marker to evaluate the effects of drugs on the emotional state. Conversely, very limited information is available as to whether psychoactive drugs influence USV emissions in mice. To provide new insights in this respect, we evaluated the emission of USVs in C57BL/6J mice subjected to repeated treatment with the dopaminergic psychostimulant of abuse amphetamine. Mice were first allowed to perform social contacts in dyads, and 2 days later they received amphetamine (1−4 mg/kg, i.p.) in a test cage (× 5 administrations) on alternate days. Seven days after treatment discontinuation, mice were re-exposed to the test cage to evaluate whether the presentation of drug-paired environmental cues elicited calling behavior, and thereafter received an amphetamine challenge. An additional group of animals received the dopamine receptor agonist apomorphine (1−4 mg/kg, i.p.), to further clarify the role of dopamine transmission in calling behavior of mice. C57BL/6J mice emitted USVs during social contacts, but did not significantly vocalize after amphetamine administration, in response to amphetamine-paired environmental cues, and after apomorphine administration. These results indicate that C57BL/6J mice may respond differently to social and pharmacological stimuli in terms of USV emissions, and may lay the foundation for future studies aimed at clarifying whether USVs may be a useful behavioral marker in studies of psychopharmacology in mice.