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Effects of undernutrition and litter size on material variables and pup development
Author(s) -
Jen KaiLin Catherine,
Wehmer Francine,
Morofski Jan
Publication year - 1978
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.420110312
Subject(s) - litter , weaning , zoology , body weight , malnutrition , biology , birth weight , endocrinology , ecology , medicine , pregnancy , genetics
Differential effects of maternal nutrition and litter size variation were examined in a 2 × 2 factorial design in which undernourished or ad lib fed mothers nursed litters of 4 or 12. Litter size accounted for a greater proportion of pup body weight at weaning than did maternal nutrition. When the mother was fed ad lib, birth weight of individual pups and later body weight were correlated regardless of litter size. When the mother was undernourished, these correlations were not found. Enlargement of litter size increased the pup weight coefficient of variability only when the mother was fed ad lib. Size of the litter did not influence the maternal variables under study: open field behavior, adrenal weight, and body weight.