Ultrasonic Vocalization in Rat Pups
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                                                        When rat pups (9 - 11 days of age) are separated from their mother and littermates they emit ultrasonic calls in the range of 30 to 50 kHz. This ultrasonic vocalization (USV) can be used as a measure of distress or anxiety. Measurement of the number of vocalizations during a short testing period (5 min) can be used to quantify the amount of distress (anxiety).
                                                        (A)
                                                        The ultrasonic cries are sensitive to drugs with anxiolytic properties like 5-HT1A receptor agonists (buspirone) (A) and GABAA-receptor agonists (chlordiazepoxide) (B). The Ultrasonic vocalizations were recorded under two temperature conditions (37 degrees C and 18 degrees C), reflecting a low and high stress state.