Do whiskers contribute to nipple-search and suckling behavior in newborn rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus)?
Por:
Mendoza A., Guzmán V., Rojas C., Hudson R.
Publicada:
1 ene 2005
Resumen:
Rabbit pups are only nursed for about 3 min once a day. They depend on a pheromone on the mother's ventrum to locate nipples and on tactile stimulation of the muzzle to grasp them. In a continuing study of the sensory input guiding suckling behavior we investigated the whisker array in newborn pups and the possible contribution of the whiskers to suckling. Rabbits are born with approximately 76 whiskers arranged in seven to nine rows and increasing in length from rostral to caudal. No significant difference was found between pups with whiskers cut and intact controls in latency to perform the stereotyped nipple-search behavior, latency to attach to nipples, time spent on nipples, milk ingested, or in the strength of conditioning to a novel odor paired with suckling. Thus, the whiskers do not seem important for suckling in newborn rabbits. © 2005 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.
Filiaciones:
Mendoza A.:
Inst. de Invest. Biomédicas, Univ. Nac. Auton. de Mex., Mexico City, Mexico
Depto. de Biol. Cel. Y Fisiol., Inst. de Invest. Biomédicas, Univ. Nac. Auton. de Mex., Apartado Postal 70228, CP 04510 México, D.F., Mexico
Guzmán V.:
Inst. de Invest. Biomédicas, Univ. Nac. Auton. de Mex., Mexico City, Mexico
Depto. de Biol. Cel. Y Fisiol., Inst. de Invest. Biomédicas, Univ. Nac. Auton. de Mex., Apartado Postal 70228, CP 04510 México, D.F., Mexico
Rojas C.:
Inst. de Invest. Biomédicas, Univ. Nac. Auton. de Mex., Mexico City, Mexico
Depto. de Biol. Cel. Y Fisiol., Inst. de Invest. Biomédicas, Univ. Nac. Auton. de Mex., Apartado Postal 70228, CP 04510 México, D.F., Mexico
Hudson R.:
Inst. de Invest. Biomédicas, Univ. Nac. Auton. de Mex., Mexico City, Mexico
Depto. de Biol. Cel. Y Fisiol., Inst. de Invest. Biomédicas, Univ. Nac. Auton. de Mex., Apartado Postal 70228, CP 04510 México, D.F., Mexico
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