Differential effects of amphetamine on ultrasonic vocalizations and locomotor activity in a rat model of endogenous depression

Banjac, Anamarija (author), Elersič, Kristian (author), Živin, Marko (author), Zorović, Maja (author)

The Wistar-Kyoto rat strain (WKY) is a model for treatment-resistant depression, exhibiting behaviors indicative of anhedonia. Although anhedonia is measured using the sucrose preference test (SPT), 50-kHz ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) hold promise as a complementary assessment tool. This study aimed to detect whether 50-kHz USVs differ in the WKY rats compared to control Wistar (W) rats. First, WKY and W rats were compared for their basal 50-kHz calls. Then, rats were repeatedly treated with four administrations of either amphetamine (AMPH) or morphine (MORPH), and 50-kHz calls were recorded. In addition, the drug-evoked locomotor activity, sucrose consumption in the SPT, and the time spent in the drug- vs. saline-paired compartment in the conditioned place preference (CPP) test were collected. WKY rats emitted fewer basal calls and fewer calls following the first and the fourth AMPH administration. Contrary to controls, AMPH did not affect the number of calls in WKY rats following the first administration. WKY also displayed reduced AMPH-induced locomotor activity and sucrose consumption in the SPT. MORPH did not affect USVs or locomotion in either strain. The results highlight the benefits of 50-kHz calls as a complementary behavioral marker for assessing anhedonia in preclinical models of depression.

• Language: English
• Keywords: Wistar-Kyoto rat, ultrasonic vocalizations, anhedonia, amphetamine, morphine
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: MF - Faculty of Medicine
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2025
• Number of pages: 17 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 15, art. 43328
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-178104
• UDC: 616-092
• ISSN on article: 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-27298-x
• COBISS.SI-ID: 264750339
• Publication date in RUL: 19.01.2026

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Scientific reports
• Shortened title: Sci. rep.
• Publisher: Springer Nature
• ISSN: 2045-2322
• COBISS.SI-ID: 18727432

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: podgana Wistar-Kyoto, ultrazvočne vokalizacije, anhedonia, amfetamin, morfin

Projects

• Funder: ARIS - Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency
• Project number: P3-0171
• Name: Plastičnost živčevja v fizioloških in patofizioloških razmerah

• Funder: ARIS - Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency
• Funding programme: Young researchers