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Cholecystokinin receptor antagonists increase the rat pup's preference toward maternal‐odor and rug texture
Author(s) -
Shayit Michal,
Weller Aron
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
developmental psychobiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.055
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1098-2302
pISSN - 0012-1630
DOI - 10.1002/dev.1010
Subject(s) - odor , cholecystokinin , attraction , psychology , cholecystokinin receptor , sensory system , endocrinology , receptor , medicine , developmental psychology , neuroscience , linguistics , philosophy
The role of the cholecystokinin (CCK) system in mediating the infant's natural preferences toward maternal‐related stimuli was examined by peripheral administration of selective CCK A and CCK B receptor antagonists (Devazepide and L‐365,260, respectively) to 11–12‐day‐old rats and presenting them with a 3‐minute preference test. In Experiment 1, the choice was between two floor textures, rug and plywood; the time spent on the relatively preferred side (rug) was measured. In Experiment 2, the odor of maternal faces emanated from one end of the test arena; time spent near that end was measured. These sensory stimuli were chosen as they represent olfactory and tactile aspects of the dam and nest. Compared to controls, both CCK receptor antagonists selectively increased the time spent on the preferred side, in both experiments, without affecting axillary temperature or locomotor activity. The results suggest that CCK may mediate and attenuate the infant's attraction toward naturally preferred stimuli. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 38: 164–173, 2001