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Sex-dependent modulation of ultrasonic vocalizations in house mice (Mus musculus musculus)

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  • Sarah M Zala
  • Doris Reitschmidt
  • Anton Noll
  • Peter Balazs
  • Dustin J Penn

Abstract

House mice (Mus musculus) emit ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs), which are surprisingly complex and have features of bird song, but their functions are not well understood. Previous studies have reported mixed evidence on whether there are sex differences in USV emission, though vocalization rate or other features may depend upon whether potential receivers are of the same or opposite sex. We recorded the USVs of wild-derived adult house mice (F1 of wild-caught Mus musculus musculus), and we compared the vocalizations of males and females in response to a stimulus mouse of the same- or opposite-sex. To detect and quantify vocalizations, we used an algorithm that automatically detects USVs (Automatic Mouse Ultrasound Detector or A-MUD). We found high individual variation in USV emission rates (4 to 2083 elements/10 min trial) and a skewed distribution, with most mice (60%) emitting few (≤50) elements. We found no differences in the rates of calling between the sexes overall, but mice of both sexes emitted vocalizations at a higher rate and higher frequencies during opposite- compared to same-sex interactions. We also observed a trend toward higher amplitudes by males when presented with a male compared to a female stimulus. Our results suggest that mice modulate the rate and frequency of vocalizations depending upon the sex of potential receivers.

Suggested Citation

  • Sarah M Zala & Doris Reitschmidt & Anton Noll & Peter Balazs & Dustin J Penn, 2017. "Sex-dependent modulation of ultrasonic vocalizations in house mice (Mus musculus musculus)," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(12), pages 1-15, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0188647
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0188647
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Timothy E Holy & Zhongsheng Guo, 2005. "Ultrasonic Songs of Male Mice," PLOS Biology, Public Library of Science, vol. 3(12), pages 1-1, November.
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    Cited by:

    1. A Ivanenko & P Watkins & M A J van Gerven & K Hammerschmidt & B Englitz, 2020. "Classifying sex and strain from mouse ultrasonic vocalizations using deep learning," PLOS Computational Biology, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(6), pages 1-27, June.
    2. Gregg A Castellucci & Daniel Calbick & David McCormick, 2018. "The temporal organization of mouse ultrasonic vocalizations," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(10), pages 1-40, October.

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