Alterations in the Ontogeny of Rat Pup Ultrasonic Vocalization Produced by Prenatal Exposure to Nitrogen Dioxide

Overview

Journal Psychopharmacology (Berl)

Specialty Pharmacology

Date 1994 Dec 1

PMID 7701043

Citations 1

Authors

V DI GIOVANNI

R Cagiano

M R Carratu

M A De Salvia

A Giustino

V Cuomo

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Wistar female rats were exposed to low concentrations of nitrogen dioxide, NO2 (1.5 and 3 ppm) from day 0 to day 20 of pregnancy. The results show that prenatal exposure to this oxidant gas produced significant changes in the duration pattern of ultrasonic vocalizations emitted by male pups removed from their nest. In particular, a significant decrease in the length of ultrasonic calls was found in both 10- and 15-day-old rats exposed to NO2 (3 ppm) during gestation. These alterations were found at dose levels which did not significantly affect reproduction parameters, body weight gain and motor activity development. These findings suggest that gestational exposure to NO2, at concentrations below those associated with overt signs of toxicity, induces in rat offspring subtle behavioral changes characterized by altered ontogeny of ultrasonic emission.

Citing Articles

Effects of Ethanol Exposure during Lactation on Ultrasonic Vocalizations of Rat Pups upon Their Isolation: Increase in Pup Distress Calls.

Shahrier M, Wada H Brain Sci. 2021; 11(9).

PMID: 34573268 PMC: 8471517. DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11091249.

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