Authors :
Presenting Author: Taylor Bradish, M.S. – Baylor University
Chloe Lau, BS – Baylor University
Sydney Pell, BS – Baylor University
Katherine Blandin, PhD – Baylor University
Maria Hemmersmeier, BS – Baylor University
Josh Thayil, -- – Baylor University
Colton Kelley, BS – Baylor University
Kendall Lally, BS – Baylor University
Lauren Coast, BS – Baylor University
Joaquin Lugo, PhD – Baylor University
Rationale:
Status epilepticus (SE) is a neurological emergency where seizures last more than 5 minutes, and in turn can lead to neuronal cell death or injury. Stress has the potential to lower an individual’s seizure threshold to the extent of inducing a seizure and can further exacerbate seizure activity in the brain. Stress in early-life can prompt epileptogenesis and increase the severity of epilepsy throughout development. Epilepsy and stress in early development can result in autistic-like behavioral comorbidities in areas such as communication. In the present study, we aim to characterize communication differences at a critical time point in early development as a consequence of early-life stress and status epilepticus.Methods:
We simulated a stressful environment using the limited bedding and nesting paradigm for our C57BL/6J mice on postnatal days (PD) 2-9. On PD10, we induced a single episode of SE by way of a intraperitoneal kainic acid (KA) injection (1.5 mg/kg). Pups in the control condition received a similar 09% physiological saline injection. The pups were monitored for two hours post-injection, then were given a subcutaneous saline injection to rehydrate. On PD11, we recorded ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) to evaluate communication variability. Separation-induced USVs were run for two minutes each, and the vocalization recordings were later scored by an investigator blinded to the experimental condition of the subject.Results:
An analysis of call type distribution found that there were significant differences between the KA and saline injected pups in the control condition for chevron, upward, downward, flat, two-component, and frequency step calls (p < .05). A significant difference was also found between the KA induced pups between the control (non-stressed) pups and the KA induced pups in the early-life stress condition with changes in chevron, complex, upward, downward, short, flat, flat, two-component, and frequency step calls (p< .05). Significant sex differences were also noted in call-type distribution both within the control and earl-life stress conditions. Examination of the vocalization’s spectral and temporal properties found a significant difference in mean call duration, latency, and total call quantity, but none were present in call fundamental frequency or power (p< .05).