Selective breeding for infant vocal response: a role for postnatal maternal effects?
N:NIH rats were selectively bred on the basis of high or low rates of ultrasonic vocalization (USV) response to isolation at 10 days of age (Brunelli et al., 1997: Dev Psychobiol 31:255-265). To examine the possibility of postnatal maternal effects in the generational transmission of divergent traits, pups were cross-fostered shortly after birth between dams of the two lines (Low- and High-USV). Controls were fostered to dams of the same line (in-fostered). Additional (population) control data were obtained from the entire 13th generation of the selectively bred lines. USV rates of cross-fostered pups in each line were not significantly different from rates of in-fostered pups of the same line. High USV line pups cross-fostered to Low USV line dams weighed significantly less than in-fostered pups, on the day of testing. The results provide no evidence for a postnatal maternal contribution to the USV phenotype. Prenatal and/or perinatal maternal effects have not been ruled out.
Brunelli
S A
SA
Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA. sab9@columbia
Hofer
M A
MA
Weller
A
A
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D010375:Pedigree; D051381:Rats; D012641:Selection, Genetic; D014465:Ultrasonics; D014828:Vocalization, Animal