Maternal Behavior in Handled and Nonhandled Mice and its Relation to Later Pup's Behavior

12 C31 female mice were either handled or nonhandled during 21 days of pregnancy, and the offspring fostered or cross-fostered to mothers of the same or opposite treatment condition. Maternal behaviors of Lying Alone, Lying with Pups, Grooming, Sustenance Behavior, Nesting, Locomotion, and Neonatal Grooming were recorded for the first 3 wk. postpartum. Both prenatal treatment and postnatal maternal care altered open-field behavior of the offspring at 30 days. Neonatal grooming is considered a possible mediating mechanism because of its importance for infant physiological development and later sexual behavior.