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.

中文翻译：

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哺乳期乙醇暴露对大鼠幼仔超声发声的影响：幼仔遇险呼叫增加

记录超声波发声 (USV) 是研究母犬与幼崽社会关系的高度敏感工具，并且 USV 录音已被用于研究乙醇对幼崽的影响。我们之前的研究已经研究了乙醇对幼鼠 USV 排放的妊娠影响。在本研究中，研究了在哺乳期间给予水坝的乙醇对孤立幼崽发出的 USV 声学参数的影响。从出生后第 5-21 天（PND）开始向水坝施用乙醇。从PND 11-21，高乙醇和低乙醇处理的大坝暴露于含乙醇的水（v / v) 浓度分别为 30% 和 15%。向对照水坝提供不含乙醇 (0%) 的自来水。所有三个乙醇处理组的幼崽都在 PND 4、8、12 和 16 上与母畜和同窝仔畜分开，并记录幼崽产生的 USV 5 分钟。发现高乙醇水坝的幼崽表现出持续时间更长和频率调制百分比更高的高架遇险 USV。USV 的变化在 PND 12 时体重减轻的幼崽中尤为明显。 这种影响可能是因为高乙醇母猪对含乙醇含量较高的水的摄入量显着降低，因此产生的奶量较低，以及表现出母亲的照顾不佳。母体护理不足和营养不良导致高乙醇组幼崽生长迟缓和死亡率增加，而在低乙醇或对照组幼崽中未观察到这些情况。因此，高乙醇组的幼崽在与大坝隔离期间经历了更高的负面情绪，并且增加了 USV 的排放。预计大坝会注意到幼崽 USV 的更长持续时间和增加的频率调制，并启动/增加适当的母体护理。结论是给哺乳期母亲服用乙醇对幼崽发育的影响比妊娠期乙醇暴露更严重，对幼崽的有害影响更大。高乙醇组的幼崽在与大坝隔离期间经历了更高的负面情绪，并且增加了 USV 的排放。预计大坝会注意到幼崽 USV 的更长持续时间和增加的频率调制，并启动/增加适当的母体护理。结论是，给予哺乳期母亲乙醇对幼崽发育的影响比妊娠期乙醇暴露更严重，对幼崽的有害影响更大。高乙醇组的幼崽在与大坝隔离期间经历了更高的负面情绪，并且增加了 USV 的排放。预计大坝会注意到幼崽 USV 的更长持续时间和增加的频率调制，并启动/增加适当的母体护理。结论是，给予哺乳期母亲乙醇对幼崽发育的影响比妊娠期乙醇暴露更严重，对幼崽的有害影响更大。