Cannibalistic traits observed in rats treated with a teratogen.
Rat offspring malformed as a result of maternal exposure to a teratogen were cannibalized preferentially to apparently normal offspring. Lack of viability also appeared to be a factor in the cannibalistic tendency, since both normal and malformed dead pups were consumed more frequently than viable pups of either category. Of the 29 cannibalized pups observed, 86% were cannibalized in the 1st 24 h. The cause of this behavior is not known with certainty but maternal hormone imbalance may play an important role.
D000014:Abnormalities, Drug-Induced / Q000662:veterinary; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002190:Cannibalism; D005260:Female; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D012376:Rodent Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D013723:Teratogens / Q000494:pharmacology*
D013723:Teratogens