Ana Celia Lemus
Mexico
Research Article
Contribution of Suckling Stimulation to the Daily Periodic Display of
Nursing Behavior in Non-Lactating Virgin Rabbits
Author(s): Gabriela Gonzalez-Mariscal, Ana Celia Lemus and Raúl Aguilar-RobleroGabriela Gonzalez-Mariscal, Ana Celia Lemus and Raúl Aguilar-Roblero
A female rabbit (does) nurse once a day for three min with circadian periodicity. This timing is controlled by the amount of suckling stimulation received as small litters (2-4 kits) disrupt nursing periodicity and increase the duration of nursing bouts. Yet, as suckling induces: a) the secretion of oxytocin and prolactin and b) milk ejection, the relative contribution of those two types of factors to the daily timing of nursing needs to be independently explored. Therefore, the objective of the present work was to determine the relevance of milk output for the circadian display of rabbit nursing behavior.
Methods: We used the model of anosmic virgins, as they can be induced to behave maternally (by lesioning the olfactory epithelium), they allow suckling from (foster) kits, but they are unable to produce milk. Does were given five foster kits, aged 1-5 days, p.. View More»
