Characteristics of pup ultrasonic vocalizations and parental behavior responses in midday gerbils (Meriones meridianus)

Abstract

Ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) play an important role in parent-infant interactions during the neonatal period of rodents because of the pups’ need to be suckled and protected by their parents. However, studies on the effects of USVs on parental care are focused on maternal behavior, and little data on paternal care are available, with especially few investigations in midday gerbils. In this study, we examined the effects of early social deprivation (ED) on offspring due to USVs and parental behavior responses in midday gerbils (Meriones meridianus). The results indicated that the number of USVs in ED gerbils increased on postnatal day nine (40 calls/minute), whereas the number of gerbils in the parental care (PC) group remained high for up to 2 weeks (46.6 calls/minute), before decreasing. The number of USVs and duration of single syllables from postnatal day 3 to 21 in ED pups were significantly lower than those in PC pups. ED increased maternal licking, grooming behavior, and nest-building, but decreased huddling and exploring behavior. Similarly, ED increased paternal behavior, like nest-building, but reduced exploring and self-grooming. Overall, gerbil pups displayed high levels of USVs and various syllable types before weaning. ED significantly reduced the number of USVs and syllable types, but increased maternal licking, grooming, and paternal nest-building behavior.