Suppression of infanticide in mother rats.

摘要: In order to test the hypothesis that infanticidal tendencies are suppressed when rats become mothers, very young newborn pups, either naturally born or cesarean-delivered, were presented virgin females and newly delivered mothers. Provided pups lively, uncleaned of fetal fluids membranes, without placentas, nearly all virgins killed mothers did not. Newborns also Day 22 pregnant whose pregnancies had recently been surgically terminated. Large proportions both groups nonkillers actively maternally responsive (and a smaller proportion both) despite fact none these undergone parturition cared for pups. These results indicate that, independent its effect on maternal caretaking, pregnancy suppresses infanticide in previously nulliparae even before they Hence, infants protected from their own parents. addition, evidence was obtained support idea freshly have stimulus properties make them specially suited promoting onset caretaking.