Pubertal decline in maternal responsiveness in Long-Evans rats: maturational influences.
Latency to onset of maternal behavior increases progressively from the weanling to the peripubertal period in female and male Long-Evans rats. Gonadectomy or hypophysectomy on day 21 had no influence on the pubertal decline in maternal responsiveness. Apparently, inhibitory neural pathways mature which are independent of pituitary hormonal influences.
Department of Psychology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08903.
J M
JM
Stern
D000818:Animals; D002369:Castration; D005260:Female; D007016:Hypophysectomy; D008297:Male; D008425:Maternal Behavior; D010053:Ovary / Q000502:physiology; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D012741:Sexual Maturation; D013737:Testis / Q000502:physiology