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Related Experiment Videos

Effect of stress on maternal behaviour.

S D Sahakari1, M E Abraham, J F Mascarenhas

  • 1Department of Physiology, Goa Medical College.

Indian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
|April 1, 1989
PubMed
Summary

Stress significantly impairs maternal behavior (MB) in rats, evidenced by reduced pup retrieval rate (PRR). Maternal behavior recovers partially but remains sensitive to stress throughout the postpartum period.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Animal Behavior
  • Endocrinology

Background:

  • Maternal behavior (MB) is crucial for offspring survival.
  • Stress can disrupt essential maternal care in mammals.
  • The postpartum period involves significant hormonal changes influencing maternal responses.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of acute stress (foot shock, immobilization) on maternal behavior in primiparous rats.
  • To assess the temporal dynamics of stress-induced changes in maternal behavior.
  • To explore potential links between stress, maternal behavior, and prolactin secretion patterns.

Main Methods:

  • Primiparous female rats were exposed to foot shock and/or immobilization stress.
  • Maternal behavior was quantified by measuring the pup retrieval rate (PRR) over 5 minutes.
  • Assessments were conducted on postpartum days 3, 12, and 20.

Main Results:

  • Pup retrieval rate (PRR) significantly decreased on postpartum day 3 following foot shock and even more so after immobilization stress.
  • While maternal behavior showed some recovery by day 12, stress continued to suppress it.
  • By postpartum day 20, maternal behavior levels returned to those observed on day 3, suggesting a prolonged effect of stress.

Conclusions:

  • Acute stressors like foot shock and immobilization markedly impair maternal behavior in rats.
  • Stress-induced deficits in maternal behavior persist throughout the postpartum period, with potential recovery and subsequent decline.
  • Changes in prolactin secretion patterns during the postpartum period may underlie the observed alterations in maternal behavior under stress.

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