title: Development of meadow voles is influenced postnatally by maternal photoperiodic history.
abstract: The importance of maternal photoperiodic history during lactation on the postnatal development of meadow vole pups was tested by cross-fostering pups on the day of birth between photorefractory females (housed for 26 wk in a 10:14-h light-dark cycle before mating) and photosensitive females (housed for 2 wk in a 10:14-h light-dark cycle before mating). Control pups were cross-fostered to females with the same photoperiodic history as the gestational dam. Somatic growth and food intake of cross-fostered pups were influenced by the photoperiod of the postnatal lactating dam. Pre- and postnatal maternal photoperiodic history interacted with the sex of the offspring to influence reproductive development. Pelage development was determined exclusively by the prenatal maternal photoperiodic history. The impact of a postnatal maternal influence on pup development of photoperiod-sensitive traits is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 48104-1687.
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000254:growth & development*; D003411:Arvicolinae / Q000254:growth & development*; D004435:Eating / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006197:Hair / Q000254:growth & development; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers; D017440:Photoperiod; D013091:Spermatogenesis; D013737:Testis / Q000254:growth & development; D014599:Uterus / Q000254:growth & development