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Circadian‐ and temperature‐specific effects of early deprivation on rat maternal care and pup development: Short‐term markers for long‐term effects?
Author(s) -
RüediBettschen Daniela,
Feldon Joram,
Pryce Christopher R.
Publication year - 2004
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.20014
Subject(s) - circadian rhythm , weaning , maternal deprivation , medicine , endocrinology , offspring , emotionality , body weight , thermoregulation , human body temperature , psychology , zoology , physiology , biology , developmental psychology , pregnancy , genetics
We compare the effects on pup body weight and on maternal care of 4‐hr separation from dam and littermates on postnatal Days 1 to 14 (early deprivation, ED) under different thermal and circadian conditions. ED was performed at either 21°C (Cold), or 32°C (Warm), and either during the light or dark phase. The comparison group was nonhandling (NH), either under a nonreversed (Light) or reversed (Dark) cycle. At weaning, Cold ED pups were of lower body weight than Warm ED pups, and Warm ED pups were of lower body weight than NH pups. Light and Dark ED pups received high care at reunion relative to NH, and Cold ED pups received higher care at several hours postreunion relative to Warm ED and NH pups. We propose that reduced pup weight and increased maternal care are short‐term markers for the severity of Cold ED, and that this manipulation could therefore impact negatively on emotionality and cognition in adulthood. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 45:59‐71, 2004.