The effect of environmental temperature on the production of ultrasounds by isolated non‐handled albino mouse pups

Abstract

Albino mouse pups develop homoiothermy during the first 19 days of their life and show three distinct stages during this period. From day 1 to day 6 they are almost completely poikilothermic at low ambient temperatures; from day 7 to day 14 or 15 is a transitional period during which they develop homoiothermy at medium temperatures (e.g. 22°C); from day 15 or 16 to day 19 or 20 is the final stage when homoiothermy at very low ambient temperatures is developed. These changes are very closely correlated with changes in the ultrasounds produced by isolated pups within the 19 day period. Thus their acoustic response to cold is weak from day 1 to day 5 or 6 and very strong from day 6 or 7 to day 12 or 13, on exposure even to medium temperatures. From day 14 onwards the pups progressively stop producing ultrasounds depending on the ambient temperatures, and there is complete cessation of calling after day 19 or 20 even on exposure to temperatures as low as 2°C. In general, decreasing the ambient temperatures increases the rate and intensity of ultrasounds produced but very low ambient temperatures have an inhibiting effect and at 2–3°C breathing and calling cease completely after a time which varies with age of the pups.

Serotonin deficiency alters susceptibility to the long-term consequences of adverse early life experience

“…The dam was then removed from the home cage and placed into a holding cage. Pups were collected as a single group with part of the nesting materials and were placed into an open bottom cylinder (internal diameter of 8 cm × 5 cm high) on a heating pad maintained at 34–36°C, a temperature range known to mimic the nest temperature in mice and reduce ultrasonic vocalizations (Okon, 1970). To ensure that the heating pad provided enough heat to prevent distress calling, an ultrasonic monitor (Avisoft Bioacoustics, Glienicke, Germany) was placed 16 cm above the holding area.…”

Group and individual regulation of physiology and behavior: A behavioral, thermographic, and acoustic study of mouse development

“…It is known that infant mice emit USVs when exposed to conditions of cold [50] or hypoxia [51]. They also emit USVs in response to tactile stimulation [52] and during bouts of activity, both when in groups [51,54] and when isolated [55].…”

Storing maternal memories: Hypothesizing an interaction of experience and estrogen on sensory cortical plasticity to learn infant cues

“…Such vocalizations have been argued to arise as a result of dropping body temperature, since pups cannot fully thermoregulate until they reach approximately two weeks of age (Okon, 1970; Blumberg and Alberts, 1990; Blumberg et al, 1992). Others have made the case that they indicate anxiety or distress in the pup (Winslow and Insel, 1991; Hofer, 1996), or more general emotional arousal (Shair et al, 2003; Ehret, 2005).…”