title: Ultrasonic vocalization in rat pups as a marker of behavioral development: an investigation of the effects of drugs influencing brain opioid system.
abstract: Early postnatal exposure to morphine significantly influenced the ultrasonic vocalization of rat pups removed from their nest. In particular, a significant decrease in the rate of calling, sound pressure level and range of frequency was found in morphine-treated animals; moreover, the duration of calls was significantly increased by morphine administration. Conversely, neither beta-casomorphins (beta CMS), which are opioid peptides derived from the enzymatic digestion of milk protein (beta-casein), nor an opioid antagonist, like naloxone, significantly affected ultrasonic emission. The results are discussed with particular reference to the role of the opioid system in separation distress-induced vocalization in young animals.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmacology, University of Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cuomo
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cagiano
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: De Salvia
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Restani
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Galimberti
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Colonna
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Racagni
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Galli
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002364:Caseins; D004723:Endorphins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009020:Morphine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009270:Naloxone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012016:Reference Values; D014465:Ultrasonics; D014828:Vocalization, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D002364:Caseins; D004723:Endorphins; D009270:Naloxone; D009020:Morphine; C021968:beta-casomorphins