Meeting Abstract
The neuropeptide hormone oxytocin (OT) influences social bonding and parental care in both human and animal models. We examined the acute effects of intranasal OT (0.8 IU/kg) on parental behavior in male and female California mice (Peromyscus californicus), a strictly monogamous, biparental rodent. California mice have relatively small litters and offspring stay with their parents longer compared to other rodent species. Both mothers and fathers show high levels of licking and grooming. Regarding ultrasonic vocalizations in parent-offspring interactions (USVs), the primary focus of research has been on whether pup calls elicit parental care. Here, we focus on the parents’ USVs toward the pups and how OT alters USVs during a pup retrieval experiment. California mice produce five distinct ultrasonic vocalizations: barks, long-distance sustained vocalizations (SV), simple sweeps (SS), complex sweeps (CS), and sweep phrases (SP). Mothers and fathers were tested individually, and maintained in separate rooms during the experiments to ensure that each parent was only communicating with the offspring. Preliminary data analysis shows that mothers produce sweep USVs only when they are interacting with pups; sweep frequency increases during licking and grooming and disappears when mothers and pups are separated. Additionally, we found that fathers produce sweep-phrases toward pups during retrievals. Comparisons between OT and saline groups including number, duration and type of USV calls, and pup responses to different types of parental USV calls will be reported. This finding identifies a novel, affiliative function for sweep calls.
