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Differential ultrasonic indices of separation distress in the presence and absence of maternal cues in infant rats bred for high and low positive social affect

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 March 2013

Paolo Iacobucci ,
Valentina Colonnello ,
Thomas Fuchs ,
Laura D'Antuono  and
Jaak Panksepp
Paolo Iacobucci
Affiliation:
Department of VCAPP, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, USA Department of Psychology, University of Rome ‘Sapienza’, Rome, Italy
Valentina Colonnello
Affiliation:
Department of VCAPP, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, USA Department of Psychology, University of Rome ‘Sapienza’, Rome, Italy
Thomas Fuchs
Affiliation:
Department of VCAPP, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, USA
Laura D'Antuono
Affiliation:
Department of VCAPP, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, USA Department of Psychology, University of Rome ‘Sapienza’, Rome, Italy
Jaak Panksepp*
Affiliation:
Department of VCAPP, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, USA
*
Jaak Panksepp, Department of VCAPP, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-6520, USA. Tel: 509-335-5803; Fax: 509-335-4650; E-mail: jpanksepp@vetmed.wsu.edu
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Abstract

Objective

Preclinical models of human mood disorders commonly focus on the study of negative affectivity, without comparably stressing the role of positive affects and their ability to promote resilient coping styles. We evaluated the role of background constitutional affect of rats by studying the separation and reunion responses of infants from low and high positive affect genetic lines (i.e., differentially selected for High and Low 50 kHz ultrasonic vocalisations (USVs).

Methods

Infants from Low and High 50 kHz USV breeding lines were isolated from mothers and exposed to either social (familiar or unfamiliar bedding) or neutral (clean bedding) odour cues between two short isolation periods, and tested in homeothermic and hypothermic ambient temperatures. Negative affect was estimated by monitoring separation distress calls (35–45 kHz USVs).

Results

Low Line pups called at higher rates than High Line, and their rates were stable regardless of odour cue. In contrast, High Line pups increased vocalisations during the second compared with the first isolation periods and during exposure to both familiar and unfamiliar odour cues, but not to neutral odour. Furthermore, the greatest increase in USV emission was seen in the second isolation period following exposure to the unfamiliar odour. However, both lines showed comparable elevated distress USVs to the thermal stressor.

Conclusion

High Line animals, selected for a positive affective phenotype (50 kHz USVs), exhibited reduced separation anxiety responses in infancy, making this a promising animal model for the role of constitutional affective states in emotional responsivity and potential resilience against emotional disorders.

Keywords

animal model, maternal potentiation, positive affect, social odours
Type
Original Articles
Information
Acta Neuropsychiatrica , Volume 25 , Issue 5 , October 2013 , pp. 289 - 296
Copyright
Copyright © Scandinavian College of Neuropsychopharmacology 2013 

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