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

Recording ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) is a highly sensitive tool to study the dam-pup social relationships, and USV recordings have been used to study the effects of ethanol on pups. Gestational effects of ethanol on the emission of USVs in rat pups have been studied in our previous research. In the present study, the effects of ethanol given to dams during lactation on the acoustic parameters of USVs emitted by isolated pups were examined. Ethanol was administered to dams from postnatal days (PNDs) 5-21. From PNDs 11-21, the high- and low-ethanol-treated dams were exposed to ethanol-containing water (v/v) at concentrations of 30% and 15%, respectively. Tap water without ethanol (0%) was provided to the control dams. The pups in all three ethanol-treated groups were separated from the dam and littermates on PNDs 4, 8, 12, and 16, and USVs produced by the pups were recorded for 5 min. It was found that elevated distress USVs with longer duration and higher percentage of frequency modulations were displayed by the pups from the high-ethanol dams. Alterations in USVs were particularly evident in the pups with a reduced body weight at PND 12. This effect might be because high-ethanol dams showed significantly lower intake of higher ethanol-containing water, and consequently, produced lower amount of milk, as well as exhibited poor maternal care. Insufficient maternal care and malnutrition resulted in pup growth retardation and increased mortality rate in the high-ethanol group, which were not observed in the low-ethanol or control pups. Accordingly, the pups in the high-ethanol group experienced elevated negative emotionality during isolation from their dam and increased emission of USVs. Longer duration and increased frequency modulation of pup USVs are expected to be noticed by the dam and to initiate/increase proper maternal care. It is concluded that ethanol given to lactating mothers has more serious consequences on pup development than the gestational ethanol exposure, and has more harmful effects on pups.

Effects of prenatal ethanol exposure on acoustic characteristics of play fighting-induced ultrasonic vocalizations in juvenile rats.

Juvenile rats display rough-and-tumble playing with conspecifics (play fighting behavior) and produce 22 and 50 kHz ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs). The 22 kHz USV is considered to reflect negative emotionality such as anxiety, fear, and distress, whereas the 50 kHz USV is considered to reflect positive emotionality such as joy, happiness, and satisfaction. USV is a sensitive tool for measuring emotionality in socially interactive situations. However, effects of prenatal ethanol-exposure on the acoustic characteristics of play fighting-induced USVs have remained unclear. In Experiment I, we recorded USVs produced by prenatally ethanol-exposed rats during play fighting on postnatal days (PNDs) 40-42 and examined the acoustic characteristics of negative and positive emotion-induced USVs. In Experiment II, we examined the anxiety levels through elevated plus maze testing on PNDs 37-39 and frequencies of playful attacks on PNDs 43-45 in ethanol-exposed rats. Ethanol was administered to pregnant rats in three gradually increased concentrations between gestational days (GDs) 8 and 20. From GDs 14 to 20, ethanol-containing tap water at concentrations of 30% and 15% (v/v) was administered to the high- and low-ethanol groups, respectively. Tap water without added ethanol was given to the control group. On PNDs 40-42, three rats from the same sex and same ethanol concentration group but from different litters were placed together into a playing cage for play fighting. The high-ethanol male triads displayed elevations of 20-35 kHz USVs reflecting negative emotionality and reductions of 45-70 kHz USVs reflecting positive emotionality compared with both the low-ethanol and control male triads. The high-ethanol male triads had prominent elevations of 20-35 kHz USVs with durations longer than 200 ms, whereas the control male triads did not produce such 20-35 kHz USVs at all. There was no difference in USV acoustic characteristics among the female triads. In addition, the high-ethanol male rats exhibited greater anxiety levels and less frequencies of play fighting than the control male rats. Altogether, we conclude that prenatal exposure to ethanol enhances negative emotionality such as anxiety and, accordingly, 20-35 kHz USVs reflecting negative emotionality are produced with a marked decrease in play fighting, suggesting difficulties in social interactions with conspecifics.

Effects of prenatal ethanol exposure on acoustic characteristics of ultrasonic vocalizations in rat pups.

Rat pups produce ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) on isolation from their dam. Ultrasonic vocalization is a sensitive tool for evaluating social behavior between pups and their dam. Prenatal ethanol-exposure leads to a reduction in USVs and have the potential of inducing difficulties in social behavior between pups and their dam. However, effects of prenatal ethanol-exposure on the acoustic characteristics of USVs remain unclear. In this study, we recorded USVs produced by rat pups that were prenatally exposed to ethanol and examined their acoustic characteristics. Ethanol was administered to 13 pregnant rats in three stages by gradually increasing concentrations between gestational days (GDs) 8-20. From GDs 14-20, ethanol-containing tap water at concentrations of 30% and 15% (v/v) was administered to the high- and low-ethanol groups, respectively. Tap water without ethanol was given to the control group. On postnatal days (PNDs) 4, 8, 12, and 16, individual newly-born pups were isolated from their dam and littermates and USVs produced by them were recorded for 5 min. The number of USVs in the high-ethanol group was greater than that in both low-ethanol and control groups on PND 12. The mean, minimum, and maximum fundamental frequencies of USVs were elevated in the high-ethanol group compared with that in both low-ethanol and control groups. Higher amplitudes of USVs were produced by male pups in the high-ethanol group than in those in both low-ethanol and control groups on PND 12. These results suggest that prenatal ethanol exposure changed emotionality and accordingly, the high-ethanol group produced more USVs as distress calls.

Perceived Stress and Social Adaptation of the Primary Caregivers of Children with Intellectual Disabilities.

The study aimed to explore whether McCubbin and Patterson's Double ABCX model of stress and adaptation can promote a better understanding of the impacts of social support, definition of the stressor and coping strategies on stress and adaptation of the primary caregivers of Intellectually Disabled (ID) children above and beyond the effects of other factors. Structured Interview Schedule, Perceived Stress Scale (Keya, 2006) and Social Adjustment Scale (Mahmuda & Parvin, 2005) were administered on 130 caregivers of ID children and 140 caregivers of typically developing children recruited conveniently. Findings reveal that stress and adaptation of the caregivers of ID children were significantly positively associated (r = .429, p < .01). Significant variations in stress and adaptation of the caregivers of ID children were found in terms of children's disability types (F = 14.50, df = 4/120, p < .001 for stress; F = 11.92, df = 4/120, p < .001 for adaptation) and severity of disability (F = 5.21, df = 1/120, p < .05 for stress; F = 11.14, df = 1/120, p < .01 for adaptation). Factors of the Double ABCX model of stress and adaptation created significant variations in stress (F = 17.94, df = 3/121, p < .001) and adaptation (F = 9.96, df = 3/121, p < .001) of the caregivers of ID children above and beyond the effects of other factors. The findings suggest that the Double ABCX model is valuable in understanding stress and adaptation of the primary caregivers of ID children.

Perceived stress and social adaptation of the primary caregivers of children with intellectual disabilities

The study aimed to explore whether McCubbin and Patterson’s Double ABCX model of stress and adaptation can promote a better understanding of the impacts of social support, definition of the stressor and coping strategies on stress and adaptation of the primary caregivers of Intellectually Disabled (ID) children above and beyond the effects of other factors. Structured Interview Schedule, Perceived Stress Scale (Keya, 2006) and Social Adjustment Scale (Mahmuda & Parvin, 2005) were administered on 130 caregivers of ID children and 140 caregivers of typically developing children recruited conveniently. Findings reveal that stress and adaptation of the caregivers of ID children were significantly positively associated (r = .429, p < .01). Significant variations in stress and adaptation of the caregivers of ID children were found in terms of children’s disability types (F = 14.50, df = 4/120, p < .001 for stress; F = 11.92, df = 4/120, p < .001 for adaptation) and severity of disability (F = 5.21, df = 1/120, p < .05 for stress; F = 11.14, df = 1/120, p < .01 for adaptation). Factors of the Double ABCX model of stress and adaptation created significant variations in stress (F = 17.94, df = 3/121, p < .001) and adaptation (F = 9.96, df = 3/121, p < .001) of the caregivers of ID children above and beyond the effects of other factors. The findings suggest that the Double ABCX model is valuable in understanding stress and adaptation of the primary caregivers of ID children (AU)

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