Aspects of nonhormonal maternal behavior in the rat

  • Joseph Terkel*
  • , Jay S. Rosenblatt
  • *Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

70 Scopus citations

Abstract

A new cross-transfusion procedure using single chronically implanted heart catheters was developed to permit animals to move freely during transfusion. Support for the concept of a nonhormonal basis of maternal behavior was found in the inability of blood, cross-transfused from pup-induced maternal virgins and spontaneous retrieving females, to shorten latencies for retrieving in recipient virgins. Spontaneous retrieving was not affected by the hormonal changes of pregnancy. On the other hand, the rate of induction of maternal behavior (i.e., retrieving) was shown to depend upon the size of the cage in which virgins were confined with pups: latencies were directly proportionate to cage area and opportunity for contact with pups.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)161-171
Number of pages11
JournalHormones and Behavior
Volume2
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 1971
Externally publishedYes

Funding

FundersFunder number
National Institute of Mental HealthMH-08064

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