MATERNAL BEHAVIOUR IN THE RAT: ANALYSIS OF CROSS-FOSTERING

The behaviour of a nursing dam influences the development, physiology, and behaviour of her offspring. Maternal behaviours can be modulated both by environmental factors, including diet, and by physical or behavioural characteristics of the offspring. In most studies of the effects of the environment on maternal behaviour, F0dams nurse their own F1offspring. Because the F1are indirectly exposed to the environmental stressorin uteroin these studies, it is not possible to differentiate between effects on maternal behaviour from direct exposure of the dam and those mediated by changes in the F1as a consequence ofin uteroexposure. In this study, we used a mouse model of high-fat (HF) diet feeding, which has been shown to influence maternal behaviours, combined with cross-fostering to discriminate between these effects. We tested whether the diet of the F0dam or the exposure experienced by the F1pupsin uterois the most significant predictor of maternal behaviour. Neither factor significantly influenced pup retrieval behaviours. However, strikingly, F1in uteroexposure was a significant predictor of maternal behaviour in the 15 min immediately following pup retrieval while F0diet had no discernable effect. Our findings suggest thatin uteroexposure to HF diet programmes physiological changes in the offspring which influence the maternal behaviours of their dam after birth.

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The Influence of the Postnatal Maternal Environment in Accounting for Differences in Aggression and Behavioural Strategies in Mus Domesticus

Behaviour ◽

10.1163/156853997x00557 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 134 (7-8) ◽

pp. 623-641 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

M. Röndigs ◽

R.F. Benus

Keyword(s):

Reciprocal Cross ◽

House Mice ◽

Mus Domesticus ◽

Maternal Behaviour ◽

Maternal Environment ◽

Behavioural Strategy ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Attack Latency ◽

Cross Fostering ◽

Behavioural Strategies

AbstractHouse mice of selection lines for short attack latency (SAL) and long attack latency (LAL) differ fundamentally in the way they interact with their environment. A previous study showed marked differences in maternal behaviour between dams from both lines. The present study was designed to determine, by reciprocal cross-fostering, to what extent the postnatal SAL and LAL maternal environment contributes to observed differences in aggression and behavioural strategy between SAL and LAL mice. At a subadult age there were neither differences in attack latency between lines nor between control and cross-fostered groups. In adulthood there was a significant difference in attack latency between SAL and LAL mice, which was not influenced by maternal type. Also coping, as measured by the readiness to encounter a challenge, was not influenced by maternal type. Both at a subadult age as in adulthood, SAL mice encountered unknown situations much faster than LAL mice, but there were no differences between control and cross-fostered groups. As found in previous studies, SAL mice were more routine-like in their behaviour than LAL mice. However, SAL mice that were reared by LAL dams were more flexible in their behaviour than SAL mice reared by their own mothers. This postnatal maternal effect on

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Breastfeeding Training through Role-Play and Effects on Mother-infant Attachment Behaviours: A Randomised Controlled Trial

Africa Journal of Nursing and Midwifery ◽

10.25159/2520-5293/6232 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 22 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Farokh Saljughi ◽

Mitra Savabi-Esfahani ◽

Shahnaz Kohan ◽

Soheila Ehsanpour

Keyword(s):

Pregnant Women ◽

Maternal Employment ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Role Play ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Control Group ◽

Maternal Behaviour ◽

Infant Attachment ◽

Significant Difference ◽

History Of

Mother-infant attachment is an intimate, lasting and satisfying relationship that leads to better cognitive, emotional and social growth of the infant. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of breastfeeding training by role-play on mother-infant attachment behaviours. This research was a randomised clinical trial (parallel design). Inclusion criteria were: no history of mental disorders; ability to read and write the Persian language to complete the questionnaire; no history of drug and tobacco intake in primigravida women. The sample comprised 100 pregnant women (in 2 groups), selected through simple random sampling at healthcare centres. The researcher reviewed prenatal care registries of selected healthcare centres and extracted the names of pregnant women in their early third trimester. The data were imported into randomisation software. The control group received routine breastfeeding training, while the intervention group received routine training together with training through role-play. The data collection tool was the Maternal Behaviour Inventory Questionnaire. Consequently 75 samples were analysed in SPSS16. Independent t-tests and chi-square tests were used to examine the difference between the two groups. Results showed that the mean score of mother-infant attachment one week after delivery was significantly higher in the intervention group in comparison to that in the control group (p<0.001). No significant difference was observed between the two groups in maternal age, age of marriage, neonatal gender, maternal employment and education, number of parity, and number of abortions (P>0.05). Since breastfeeding training through role-play could affect mother-infant attachment, it is suggested that this type of training should be provided for pregnant women to promote mother-infant attachment and exclusive breastfeeding.

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Effects of cross-fostering and developmental exposure to mixtures of environmental contaminants on hepatic gene expression in prepubertal 21 days old and adult male Sprague-Dawley rats

Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health Part A ◽

10.1080/15287394.2018.1542360 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 82 (1) ◽

pp. 1-27 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

D. Desaulniers ◽

N. Khan ◽

C. Cummings-Lorbetskie ◽

K. Leingartner ◽

G-H. Xiao ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gene Expression ◽

Adult Male ◽

Environmental Contaminants ◽

Hepatic Gene Expression ◽

Sprague Dawley ◽

Developmental Exposure ◽

Sprague Dawley Rats ◽

Cross Fostering

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The effects of sow maternal behaviour on piglet mortality in an open farrowing system

Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science ◽

10.1017/s0308229600031597 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 1996 ◽

pp. 196-196 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

J.N. Marchant ◽

D.M. Broom ◽

S. Corning

Keyword(s):

Maternal Behaviour ◽

Freedom Of Movement ◽

Welfare Benefits ◽

Potential Risks ◽

Survival And Growth ◽

Piglet Mortality

Community lactating systems offer a number of potential welfare benefits to the sow and her litter. However, giving the sow greater freedom of movement and choice of environments also has potential risks. With less restriction, the maternal qualities of the sow will have a greater influence on the survival and growth of her litter. The objectives of this experiment were to determine what behaviours of the sow influenced piglet mortality in an open communal farrowing system

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Maternal Style Selectively Shapes Amygdalar Development and Social Behavior in Rats Genetically Prone to High Anxiety

Developmental Neuroscience ◽

10.1159/000374108 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 37 (3) ◽

pp. 203-214 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Joshua L. Cohen ◽

Matthew E. Glover ◽

Phyllis C. Pugh ◽

Andrew D. Fant ◽

Rebecca K. Simmons ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gene Expression ◽

Psychological Health ◽

Early Life ◽

Developmental Trajectory ◽

Emotional Behavior ◽

Developmental Gene ◽

Developmental Gene Expression ◽

Maternal Style ◽

Anxiety Depression ◽

Cross Fostering

The early-life environment critically influences neurodevelopment and later psychological health. To elucidate neural and environmental elements that shape emotional behavior, we developed a rat model of individual differences in temperament and environmental reactivity. We selectively bred rats for high versus low behavioral response to novelty and found that high-reactive (bred high-responder, bHR) rats displayed greater risk-taking, impulsivity and aggression relative to low-reactive (bred low-responder, bLR) rats, which showed high levels of anxiety/depression-like behavior and certain stress vulnerability. The bHR/bLR traits are heritable, but prior work revealed bHR/bLR maternal style differences, with bLR dams showing more maternal attention than bHRs. The present study implemented a cross-fostering paradigm to examine the contribution of maternal behavior to the brain development and emotional behavior of bLR offspring. bLR offspring were reared by biological bLR mothers or fostered to a bLR or bHR mother and then evaluated to determine the effects on the following: (1) developmental gene expression in the hippocampus and amygdala and (2) adult anxiety/depression-like behavior. Genome-wide expression profiling showed that cross-fostering bLR rats to bHR mothers shifted developmental gene expression in the amygdala (but not hippocampus), reduced adult anxiety and enhanced social interaction. Our findings illustrate how an early-life manipulation such as cross-fostering changes the brain's developmental trajectory and ultimately impacts adult behavior. Moreover, while earlier studies highlighted hippocampal differences contributing to the bHR/bLR phenotypes, our results point to a role of the amygdala as well. Future work will pursue genetic and cellular mechanisms within the amygdala that contribute to bHR/bLR behavior either at baseline or following environmental manipulations.

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Oxytocin and cortisol release during suckling, hand-milking and machine milking in camels

Journal of Dairy Research ◽

10.1017/s0022029921000522 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

Marwa Brahmi ◽

Moufida Atigui ◽

Ihmen Hammadi ◽

Jacques Portanguen ◽

Mohamed Hammadi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Plasma Concentration ◽

Management Practices ◽

Maternal Behaviour ◽

Milk Ejection ◽

Dromedary Camels ◽

Machine Milking ◽

Physiological Consequence ◽

Peak Release ◽

Cortisol Release ◽

Concentration Patterns

Abstract This research paper addresses the hypothesis that oxytocin (OT) could be released during suckling and during milking with and without the presence of a calf and that this release could be regulated by maternal behaviour. Plasma concentration patterns of OT and cortisol (CORT) were measured in six Tunisian dromedary camels during 2 suckling episodes, 2 manual milking episodes with calves beside the mother and 2 machine milking episodes without calves present. Various patterns of OT release were observed between each camel including specific two peak release patterns. Higher plasma OT concentrations were found during the suckling and hand-milking episodes with simultaneous suckling of calves, than during the machine milking episodes without calves. Exclusive mechanical milking episodes also evoked significant mean OT release, although greatly reduced compared to suckling and hand milking. The low basal levels and classical CORT release patterns suggested non-stressful management practices were used and there were very limited differences in udder stimulation between managements. The OT release induced by exclusive suckling and suckling together with hand-milking gives a reference point for what a good milk ejection stimulation is in camels. The important and specific reduction of OT release during machine milking without the calf present could be a physiological consequence of the maternal behaviour (selectivity for the own young) and to a lesser extent explained by a lower stimulation by machine milking.

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PRKAR2A deficiency protects mice from experimental colitis by increasing IFN-stimulated gene expression and modulating the intestinal microbiota

Mucosal Immunology ◽

10.1038/s41385-021-00426-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Lumin Wei ◽

Rongjing Zhang ◽

Jinzhao Zhang ◽

Juanjuan Li ◽

Deping Kong ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Experimental Colitis ◽

Regulatory Subunit ◽

Protective Effects ◽

Intestinal Epithelial ◽

Catalytic Subunits ◽

Regulatory Subunits ◽

Pka Regulatory Subunit ◽

Cross Fostering ◽

Specific Deletion

AbstractProtein kinase A (PKA) plays an important role in regulating inflammation via its catalytic subunits. Recently, PKA regulatory subunits have been reported to directly modulate some signaling pathways and alleviate inflammation. However, the role of PKA regulatory subunits in colonic inflammation remains unclear. Therefore, we conducted this study to investigate the role of the PKA regulatory subunit PRKAR2A in colitis. We observed that PRKAR2A deficiency protected mice from dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced experimental colitis. Our experiments revealed that the intestinal epithelial cell-specific deletion of Prkar2a contributed to this protection. Mechanistically, the loss of PRKAR2A in Prkar2a−/− mice resulted in an increased IFN-stimulated gene (ISG) expression and altered gut microbiota. Inhibition of ISGs partially reversed the protective effects against DSS-induced colitis in Prkar2a−/− mice. Antibiotic treatment and cross-fostering experiments demonstrated that the protection against DSS-induced colitis in Prkar2a−/− mice was largely dependent on the gut microflora. Altogether, our work demonstrates a previously unidentified function of PRKAR2A in promoting DSS-induced colitis.

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