title: Role of dam and pups in the absence of nursing in CPB-B rats (rattus norvegicus).
abstract: In rats of the CPB-B strain, the female shows normal parturition behaviour and normal capacity of milk secretion, but the young - all born alive - die within few days of birth. Here, we report that this postnatal mortality is eliminated when CPB-B neonates are crossfostered to mothers of the Wu:Cpb strain; conversely, Wu:Cpb neonates (which are successfully reared by dams of their own strain) die within few days of birth when crossfostered to newly parturient CPB-B rats. It is suggested that pup mortality in CPB-B rats is due to inadequate maternal care resulting, supposedly, from susceptibility of the mother to disturbing environmental stimuli.
authors.affiliation: Department of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, Psychological Laboratory, University of Nijmegen, Montessorilaan 3, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Schiffelers
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Timmermans