Mother-Infant Interactions in Rats Lacking CCK(A) Receptors.
Mediation of mother-infant interactions by the brain-gut peptide cholecystokinin (CCK) was examined by observing behavior of Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rats, which lack functional CCKA receptors because of a genetic abnormality. OLETF (n = 10) and control (Long-Evans Tokushima Otsuka [LETO] n = 10) dams interacted with 1 pup of each line on Postpartum Days 6-9. OLETF pups received more body and anogenital licking and emitted substantially more ultrasonic vocalizations than LETO pups. OLETF dams carried pups less frequently and showed a nursing position more frequently than LETO dams. No significant Pup X Dam Line interactions or line differences in dams' activity were detected. The results provide convergent validity to previous pharmacological studies implicating CCK mediation of both infant and maternal behavior.
Lavi-Avnon
Yael
Y
Department of Psychology, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel.
Malkesman
Oz
O
Hurwitz
Itay
I
Weller
Aron
A
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D008425:Maternal Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D009714:Nucleus Accumbens / Q000378:metabolism; D009769:Object Attachment; D011247:Pregnancy; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D011949:Receptors, Cholecystokinin / Q000378:metabolism*; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology
D011949:Receptors, Cholecystokinin; D004298:Dopamine