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Placentophagia in Nonpregnant Rats: Influence of Estrous Cycle Stage and Birthplace

Kristal, Dr. Mark B. and Graber, Gary C. (1976) Placentophagia in Nonpregnant Rats: Influence of Estrous Cycle Stage and Birthplace. [Journal (Paginated)]

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Abstract

Prior parturitional experience and genotype have previously been found to affect the proportion of nonpregnant female rats and mice that will eat foster placenta. The present series of experiments was designed to investigate the influence of estrous cycle stage on placentophagia in rats. Foster placenta was presented to nonpregnant Long-Evans females, purchased from a commercial breeder, for 15 min on 5 consecutive days. We found that virgin placentophages were most likely to have eaten placenta on the first presentation, unless the first presentation occurred during proestrus. In fact, virgins would not eat placenta for the first time during proestrus, regardless of test-day. However, once they had eaten placenta, either in a nonproestrus stage, or, in the case of primiparae, during parturition, they would eat placenta during proestrus. Long-Evans rats born in our laboratory differed from the purchased rats, manifesting an incidence of placentophagia that was too low to be analyzed by stage of the estrous cycle; when tested as primiparae, however, there were no differences between the two groups.

Item Type:Journal (Paginated)
Keywords:placentophagia, estrous cycle, birthplace, parturitional experience, maternal behavior, rats
Subjects:Biology > Behavioral Biology
Psychology > Psychobiology
Psychology > Comparative Psychology
Biology > Animal Behavior
ID Code:6219
Deposited By: Kristal, Mark B.
Deposited On:16 Oct 2008 13:49
Last Modified:11 Mar 2011 08:57

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