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Suckling in newborn rats: eliminated by nipple lavage, reinstated by pup saliva
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|July 30, 1976
Chemical lavage of the nipples of anesthetized maternal rats virtually eliminated suckling by their 4- to 5-day-old pups. Normal suckling was immediately reinstated, however, by painting a vacuum distillate of the wash or of pup saliva onto the nipples. Thus, a substance necessary to direct and release suckling, possibly rat pup saliva, appears to coat the nipple surface.
Chemical lavage of the nipples of anesthetized maternal rats virtually eliminated suckling by their 4- to 5-day-old pups. Normal suckling was immediately reinstated, however, by painting a vacuum distillate of the wash or of pup saliva onto the nipples. Thus, a substance necessary to direct and release suckling, possibly rat pup saliva, appears to coat the nipple surface.