Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39863873›Full record

SynthesisBiology of sex differences2025

A meta-analysis of sex differences in neonatal rodent ultrasonic vocalizations and the implication for the preclinical maternal immune activation model.

Alison M Randell, Stephanie Salia, Lucas F Fowler, Toe Aung, David A Puts, Ashlyn Swift-Gallant

Abstract readMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Biology of sex differences, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Alison M Randell *Department of Psychology, Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador, St. John's NL, Canada.
Stephanie Salia *Department of Psychology, Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador, St. John's NL, Canada.
Lucas F FowlerDepartment of Psychology, Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador, St. John's NL, Canada.
Toe AungDepartment of Psychology and Counseling, Immaculata University, Immaculata, PA, USA.
David A PutsDepartment of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.
Ashlyn Swift-GallantDepartment of Psychology, Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador, St. John's NL, Canada.

Funding

CIHR 495842Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada RGPIN-2019-04999
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

As the earliest measure of social communication in rodents, ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) in response to maternal separation are critical in preclinical research on neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). While sex differences in both USV production and behavioral outcomes are reported, many studies overlook sex as a biological variable in preclinical NDD models. We aimed to evaluate sex differences in USV call parameters and determine if USVs are differently impacted based on sex in the preclinical maternal immune activation (MIA) model. Results indicate that sex differences in USVs vary with developmental stage and are more pronounced in MIA offspring. Specifically, developmental stage is a moderator of sex differences in USV call duration, with control females emitting longer calls than males in early development (up to postnatal day [PND] 8), but this pattern reverses after PND8. MIA leads to a reduction in call numbers for females compared to same-sex controls in early development, with a reversal post-PND8. MIA decreased call duration and increased total call duration in males, but unlike females, developmental stage did not influence these differences. In males, MIA effects varied by species, with decreased call numbers in rats but increased call numbers in mice. MIA timing (gestational day ≤ 12.5 vs. > 12.5) did not significantly affect results. Our findings highlight the importance of considering sex, developmental timing, and species in USVs research. We discuss how analyzing USV call types and incorporating sex as a biological variable can enhance our understanding of neonatal ultrasonic communication and its translational value in NDD research.

Indexed as

Sex CharacteristicsVocalization, AnimalAnimalsAnimals, NewbornFemaleMaleMaternal DeprivationMiceRatsRodentiaUltrasonicsAutism spectrum disorderMaternal immune activationMaternal separationNeurodevelopmental disordersPreclinical modelsSex differencesUltrasonic vocalizations

Identifiers

PMID39863873
PMCPMC11762899

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.