title: Kin discrimination in prepubescent and adult Long-Evans rats.
abstract: The present study investigated the preference of prepubescent and adult rats for an unrelated conspecific over a closely related conspecific (e.g., father, mother). Preference was measured by the amount of time spent in the vicinity of the stimulus animals as well as who was visited first. To prevent mating behavior, stimulus animals were housed behind wire-mesh. Experiment 1 determined if adult female offspring prefer an unrelated, unfamiliar adult male or their father. The preference of adult female rats was independent of kinship. Experiment 2 evaluated the preference of prepubescent female and male offspring for an unrelated, unfamiliar adult male or their father. The preference of prepubescent female and male rats was also independent of kinship. Experiment 3 evaluated the preference of adult male offspring for an unrelated, unfamiliar adult female or their mother. The preference of adult male rats was independent of kinship. In summary, prepubescent and adult rats do not demonstrate preference for kin vs. non-kin (as measured by time spent near stimulus animals or who was visited first). Although kin recognition provides a mechanism for inbreeding avoidance (Wilson, 1987), in the present study adult rats show no evidence of inbreeding avoidance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Southwestern University, Georgetown, TX 78626, United States.
authors.forename: Jessica L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Bolton
authors.forename: Carissa
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Winland
authors.forename: Brittany
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ford
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Burbey
authors.forename: Maha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zewail-Foote
authors.forename: Fay A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Guarraci
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological / Q000502:physiology*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D005220:Fathers; D005260:Female; D007178:Inbreeding; D008297:Male; D052586:Mating Preference, Animal; D009035:Mothers; D011374:Progesterone / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D020318:Rats, Long-Evans; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology; D012741:Sexual Maturation / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: C074283:estradiol 3-benzoate; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol