Genetic, Physiological, and Behavioral Background of Reproduction in the Rabbit

Behaviour ◽  
1960 ◽  
Vol 15 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 71-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul B. Sawin ◽  
Stephen F. Petropolus ◽  
Victor H. Denenberg ◽  
Sherman Ross
Keyword(s):  
Maternal Behavior ◽  
Maternal Care ◽  
Nest Building ◽  
Newborn Mortality ◽  
Cent Mortality ◽  
Positive Correlations ◽  
Nest Quality

AbstractThe records of a number of female rabbits of races III, IIIc, X, and AcEp which had produced at least four litters were analyzed for correlations between scattering and cannibalism and five other measures of maternal behavior. These rabbits were classed as low newborn mortality mothers and the maternal behavior scores for their first successful litter were compared with the behavioral scores of high newborn mortality mothers (60 per cent mortality of complete litters) for their first successful litter. Only race IIIc showed any significant amount of scattering and cannibalism. In this race, correlational analyses of scattering and cannibalism against the five other measures of maternal behavior found that both were significantly related to nest quality and had weaker, though positive, correlations with time of nest building. Race IIIc does were only moderately consistent in their scattering or cannibalizing behavior over four litters and these variables were correlated .404. No differences were found between high and low newborn mortality mothers except for race AcEp, where the low mortality mothers were found to have significantly more interest in their young and to be better nurse-mothers than the high newborn mortality does. The findings from this study and a previous one (DENENBERG, et al., 1958) indicate that better nest quality, earlier time of nest building, greater percentage of live born young suckled on the first day, lack of scattering, and lack of cannibalism are inter-correlated. It was concluded that these characteristics can be classified as a "maternal care" complex which appears to be independent of a second group involving interest in young and aggressive protection.

Genetic, Physiological and Behavioral Backround of reproduction in the Rabbit: IV. An Analysis of Maternal Behavior at Successive Parturitions

Behaviour ◽  
1958 ◽  
Vol 13 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 131-141 ◽  
Author(s):  
Victor H Denenberg ◽  
Gabriel P Fromer ◽  
Paul B Sawin ◽  
Sherman Ross
Keyword(s):  
Racial Differences ◽  
Maternal Behavior ◽  
Positive Relationship ◽  
Linear Increase ◽  
Race Differences ◽  
Nest Building ◽  
Nest Construction ◽  
Positive Relation ◽  
Nest Quality

AbstractA previous study of maternal behavior in the rabbit dealing with the improvement in nest quality in successive parturitions is here extended to four other aspects of maternal behavior. No significant differences were found for scores on interest in young or pre-parturient aggression either among the four races investigated or over a number of litters. Race differences significant at the .05 level were obtained for post-parturient aggression scores involving two and four litters. A linear increase significant at the .01 level was revealed in the same measure for one race when four litters were considered. Significant racial differences were also found with respect to time of nest building. A second set of analyses dealt with the relation of other variables to the quality of nest construction. The only measure found to have a distinct positive relation to nest quality was the percentage of liveborn young suckled on the first day of life. An ambiguous, but weakly positive relationship was found between nest quality and time of nest building relative to parturition. A weak relationship was found between time of nest construction and the percent of liveborn young suckled the first day. These findings suggest the possibility of some factor or factors acting in common upon the nesting and suckling activities in maternal behavior.

scholarly journals Stress reactivity near birth affects nest building timing and offspring number and survival in the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. e0246258
Author(s):  
Ildikó Benedek ◽  
Vilmos Altbӓcker ◽  
Tamás Molnár
Keyword(s):  
Maternal Behavior ◽  
Hormonal Regulation ◽  
Oryctolagus Cuniculus ◽  
Stress Reactivity ◽  
Late Pregnancy ◽  
Nest Building ◽  
European Rabbit ◽  
Stress Axis ◽  
Offspring Number ◽  
Nest Quality

The physiological response to stressors has great importance, and its variance has an adaptive role in the survival of individuals. This study describes the effects of stress-axis activation on maternal behavior during the birthing process (parturition) in captive rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). In this species, chances of survival are strongly influenced by nest quality. Thus, maternal care is initiated with nest preparation in late pregnancy, which itself is subject to strict and complex hormonal regulation. Among these hormones, progesterone is one of the most dominant in the process of nest construction. We have demonstrated that its level is altered by the level of cortisol elevation in the animal in question, potentially having an influence on the preparation of the nest for the newborn kittens. We found that does that had a constant and un-elevated level of cortisol metabolite while delivering their litters performed better than those individuals that showed an increased corticoid response around parturition. The latter group exhibited a perceptible delay in the building of their nests, and in addition, further losses were also experienced in their already smaller litters. As the quality of the nest itself proved to be was in no way inferior to those of the other group, this higher kitten-mortality rate may be attributed to impaired maternal behavior. Individual variances in cortisol levels may also result in subtle changes in hormonal regulation, potentially affecting the expression of maternal behavior. We have concluded that the higher level of cortisol detected in more-sensitive does effectively disrupts the natural hormonal regulation involved in their nest-building processes.

Effects of small medial preoptic area lesions on maternal behavior: Retreiving and nest building in the rat

1980 ◽  
Vol 194 (2) ◽  
pp. 471-478 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carol D. Jacobson ◽  
Joseph Terkel ◽  
Roger A. Gorski ◽  
Charles H. Sawyer
Keyword(s):  
Maternal Behavior ◽  
Preoptic Area ◽  
Medial Preoptic Area ◽  
Nest Building

Maternal Behavior in the Rat: an Investigation and Quantification of Nest Building

Behaviour ◽  
1969 ◽  
Vol 34 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 1-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Victor H. Denenberg ◽  
M.X. Zarrow ◽  
Rhoda E. Taylor
Keyword(s):  
Maternal Behavior ◽  
Nest Building ◽  
Significant Finding ◽  
Nest Material ◽  
Warm Temperature ◽  
Ambient Temperatures ◽  
Pregnant Females ◽  
Series Of Experiments ◽  
Similarities And Differences ◽  
Over Time

AbstractA technique has been developed to quantify nest building in rats. Small wooden dowels are provided as nest material. Rats shred the dowels, and the degree of nest building is determined by the amount shredded daily. Pregnant females show a marked increase in dowel shredding at or just prior to the time of parturition; shredding falls precipitously after parturition. Males and nonpregnant females show no such pattern over an equivalent period of time; their dowel shredding, in fact, decreases over time. A series of experiments were carried out involving hormone manipulations of pregnant and nonpregnant females. The only significant finding was that progesterone reduced the percentage of females which shredded dowels and also delayed the time of onset of this behavior. When nonpregnant females and males were exposed to cool ambient temperatures, dowel shredding increased markedly. On the other hand, exposing females to a warm temperature blocked dowel shredding behavior. Some similarities and differences between these findings and findings for the rabbit and mouse are discussed.

scholarly journals Equipping Farrowing Pens with Straw Improves Maternal Behavior and Physiology of Min-Pig Hybrid Sows

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 105
Author(s):  
Chao Wang ◽  
Qian Han ◽  
Runze Liu ◽  
Wenbo Ji ◽  
Yanju Bi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Maternal Behavior ◽  
Total Duration ◽  
Enriched Environment ◽  
Nest Building ◽  
Parental Behaviors ◽  
Bout Duration ◽  
Two Factors ◽  
Building Behavior

This study investigated the effects of two factors, enriched environment (EE) and different crossbreeds, on the maternal behavior and physiology of Min-pig hybrid sows. The analysis was performed on a total of 72 multiparous sows, including Duroc × Min pig (DM), Landrace × Min pig (LM), and Landrace × Yorkshire (LY) sows, using a total of 24 sows per cross. The sows were housed in two different farrowing pens, one with straw (EE) and one without straw (barren environment (BE)). The results showed that nest-building behavior, including the frequency, total duration, and bout duration, was significantly higher in EE sows than in BE sows (p < 0.01). The frequency and duration of prepartum nest-building behavior were higher in DM and LM sows than in LY sows (p < 0.0001). During the first three days postpartum, EE sows spent a shorter time in ventral recumbency compared with BE sows (p < 0.05). The oxytocin (p < 0.05) and prolactin (p < 0.01) concentrations of EE sows were significantly higher than in BE sows; however, the concentration of cortisol followed the opposite (p < 0.01). The concentration of oxytocin was significantly higher in DM and LM sows than in LY sows (p < 0.01). In conclusion, both EE increased the expression of hormones related to parental behaviors and prenatal nesting and nursing behavior of sows. Furthermore, an EE can also reduce stress in sows. Min-pig hybrids may inherit highly advantageous characteristics of maternal behavior of Min-pig sows.

scholarly journals Oxytocin Receptor Gene Polymorphism in Lactating Dogs

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 3099
Author(s):  
Asahi Ogi ◽  
Valentina Naef ◽  
Filippo Maria Santorelli ◽  
Chiara Mariti ◽  
Angelo Gazzano
Keyword(s):  
Social Behavior ◽  
Maternal Behavior ◽  
Maternal Care ◽  
Receptor Gene ◽  
Oxytocin Receptor ◽  
Single Nucleotide ◽  
Oxytocin Receptor Gene ◽  
Receptor Gene Polymorphism ◽  
Polymorphic Variants ◽  
Evolution Of Mammals

Genetic variations in the oxytocinergic system, known to regulate social behavior throughout the evolution of mammals, are believed to account for differences in mammalian social behavior. Particularly, polymorphic variants of the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) gene have been associated with behavioral variations in both humans and dogs. In this study, we offered evidence of the correlation between levels of salivary oxytocin (sOXT), maternal behavior and a single-nucleotide gene variant in OXTR (rs8679684) in nineteen lactating Labrador Retriever dogs. Carriers of at least one copy of the minor A allele showed higher levels of sOXT and maternal care in comparison with the homozygous T allele carriers. Considering the relevance of mother care in newborn development, these findings could help us to better understand the possible impact of variants in the OXTR gene in selecting dams.

Maternal behavior in the rabbit: endocrine factors involved in hair loosening

1963 ◽  
Vol 204 (2) ◽  
pp. 271-274 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Farooq ◽  
V. H. Denenberg ◽  
S. Ross ◽  
P. B. Sawin ◽  
M. X. Zarrow
Keyword(s):  
Maternal Behavior ◽  
Significant Degree ◽  
Nest Building ◽  
Endocrine Factors

Evidence for the involvement of endocrine factors in the phenomenon of hair loosening is presented. A significant degree of hair loosening occurs on the day of nest building among pregnant and pseudopregnant rabbits. In the latter it occurs between the 19th and 21st day after the induction of pseudopregnancy; in the former it occurs toward the end of gestation. Progesterone administration toward the end of pregnancy significantly depressed the extent of hair loosening regardless of the occurrence of nest building. A significant degree of hair loosening could be induced in the castrated doe by treatment with a combination of estradiol, progesterone, and prolactin for 8 weeks. Hormone treatments of a shorter duration that induced nest building did not produce any hair loosening. Although nest building and hair loosening are correlated in time, the two phenomena can occur independently of each other and appear to be governed by separate mechanisms.

scholarly journals Maternal Care and Attachment Security in Preschool Children

2019 ◽  
Vol 35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Magaly Nóblega ◽  
Patricia Bárrig ◽  
Katherine Fourment
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Preschool Children ◽  
Maternal Behavior ◽  
Maternal Care ◽  
Attachment Security ◽  
Maternal Sensitivity ◽  
Partner Relationship ◽  
Child Attachment ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract This study assessed and compared the relationship between maternal sensitivity and child attachment in two groups of mother-child dyads from Lima, Peru, one group with children 4 years old and older and a second group with younger children. Fifty-six dyads participated in the study. The mothers ages ranged between 22 and 45 years (M = 33.14, SD = 5.50); 82.1% of them had higher education and 73.2% were in a partner relationship. Of the children, 53.6 were boys and 41.1% were an only child. The study used AQS and MBPQS to rate child and maternal behavior respectively. Our results show a high correlation between attachment security and maternal sensitivity in both groups, as well as specific manifestations of these variables in the context studied.

Ovarian steroids involvement in maternal care in the native Thai hen (Gallus domesticus)

2016 ◽  
Vol 66 (1) ◽  
pp. 111-118
Author(s):  
Yupaporn Chaiseha ◽  
Boonyarit Kamkrathok ◽  
Israel Rozenboim
Keyword(s):  
Maternal Behavior ◽  
Maternal Care ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Inhibitory Effect ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Gallus Domesticus ◽  
Neuroendocrine Regulation ◽  
Ovarian Steroids ◽  
Plasma Estradiol ◽  
Circulating Levels

Maternal care in birds generally includes incubation, brooding and rearing behavior. The neuroendocrine regulation of such maternal behavior is not fully understood for many bird species. The aim of this study was to elucidate whether changes in the circulating levels of ovarian steroids might be associated with brooding behavior in the female native Thai chicken. Changes in the levels of ovarian steroids of rearing hens were compared with those of non-rearing ones. Plasma estradiol, progesterone, and testosterone levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. The results revealed differences in circulating levels of ovarian steroids between hens rearing their chicks and those deprived of their young after hatching. The non-rearing hens had higher circulating estradiol, progesteron, and tertosterone levels than those of the rearing hens. These differences were significant during the first two weeks after hatching. The results of the present study demonstrate the inhibitory effect of brooding behavior on ovarian steroids in the native Thai chickens. Indeed, disruption of brooding behavior by removing the chicks from the hens increased circulating levels of ovarian steroids and reinitiated reproductive and egg laying activities.

Maternal care affects the development of maternal behavior in inbred mice

2009 ◽  
Vol 51 (4) ◽  
pp. 345-357 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hirotaka Shoji ◽  
Katsunori Kato
Keyword(s):  
Maternal Behavior ◽  
Maternal Care ◽  
Inbred Mice
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document