Acoustic Properties of Early Life Ultrasonic Vocalizations are Altered in the Valproic Acid Rat Model of Autism Público

Abstract

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by communication delays, social and emotional deficits, and restrictive, repetitive behaviors and interests. While many studies have assessed parallel social deficits in various rat models of ASD, few studies have examined parallel communication delays and no studies have analyzed patterns of USV acoustic properties in an ASD rat model. The present study investigated potential developmental differences of early life vocalizations in rats exposed to valproic acid (VPA) in utero. Dams were gavaged with VPA dosages on embryonic days 12, 13, and 14 and recordings of pups in isolation were collected on postnatal days (P) 7, P11, and P14. We examined USV number, duration, frequency, and structure in VPA rat pups of each postnatal day, emphasizing not only a developmental approach to USV analysis but also a comprehensive examination of USV acoustic properties within the VPA ASD model. The findings of the present study confirm that prenatal exposure to VPA alters the acoustic properties of rat pup USVs during the first two weeks of life, resulting in decreased USV emission, increased higher frequency USVs, and dissimilar USV structural patterns. Moreover, while prenatal VPA exposure does not alter USV durations, the pattern of USV durations for both VPA and saline controls do change from P7 to P11 to P14. These data suggest that several acoustic properties of early life vocalizations are altered by prenatal VPA exposure and that these communication abnormalities may have decreased functionality, impact maternal behavior differently than control USVs, and serve as a potential biomarker of future autistic-like symptomatology. The findings of this study also emphasize, through an animal model, that early life vocalization is an area in which the field should focus on as a potential early detection method of ASD in infants.

Table of Contents

Abstract........................................................................................................................1 Introduction...................................................................................................................2 Methods........................................................................................................................9

Results........................................................................................................................12

Discussion....................................................................................................................15

Tables and Figures.........................................................................................................23

Table 1: Distribution of Rat Pups. 23

Table 2: Examples of USV Structures 24

Figure 1: VPA-exposed rat pups have reduced number of calls during thefirst two

weeks of life. 25

Figure 2: General USV duration patterns change in the first two weeks of life but VPA

does not alter USV duration patterns in rat pups. 26

Figure 3: VPA-exposed rat pups emit more high frequency USVs. 27

Figure 4: VPA-exposed rat pups express a different distribution of USV structure at P7. 28

References.....................................................................................................................29

About this Honors Thesis

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School	Emory College
Department	Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology
Degree	BS
Submission	Honors Thesis
Language	English
Research Field	Biology, Neuroscience Health Sciences, Human Development Psychology, Behavioral Sciences
Palavra-chave	ultrasonic vocalizations autism valproic acid
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Rainnie, Donald, Emory University
Committee Members	Hennessey, Tom, Emory University Mascaro, Jennifer Streiffer, Emory University Otis, Laura, Emory University

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