Ontogenetic changes of ultrasonic vocalizations emitted from infant rats.
Ontogenetic changes of USVs were investigated to establish an index of stress in infant rats. The USVs were obtained by exposing infant rats to cold stress and were analyzed by real-time spectrography. USV waveforms consisted of four types, R-I, II, III and IV. These USVs were closely monitored at the age of 3-7 days in both sexes. From day 14, the frequency and incidence of USVs gradually decreased and had disappeared completely at the age of 21 days. Therefore, USVs should be useful in estimating the stress of infant rats between the ages of 3-7 days.
Department of Comparative and Behavioral Medicine, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Tokyo 180-8602, Japan.
Haruo
H
Hashimoto
Naoki
N
Moritani
Masahiro
M
Katou
Takako
T
Nishiya
Pudcharaporn
P
Kromkhun
Makoto
M
Yokosuka
Minoru
M
Tanaka
Toru R
TR
Saito
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000254:growth & development*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000502:physiology; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar / Q000254:growth & development*; D013018:Sound Spectrography; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000503:physiopathology; D014828:Vocalization, Animal / Q000502:physiology*