Postpartum behavior in the mouse: the contribution of suckling stimulation to water intake, food intake and body weight regulation.
Rockland-Swiss (R-S) Albino female mice that receive suckling stimulation from young consume significantly more water and food and gain significantly more weight than dams without young. Excision of nipples (thelectomy) prevents postpartum increases in these consummatory behaviors and in body weight gain even in dams with extensive prior suckling exposure. Thus, both the initiation and maintenance of postpartum ingestive behaviors depend primarily upon suckling stimulation from young.
D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D004326:Drinking; D004435:Eating; D005260:Female; D007774:Lactation; D009115:Muridae; D011247:Pregnancy; D013391:Sucking Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D014882:Water-Electrolyte Balance