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Early Maternal Behaviors Predictive of the Survival of Suckling Rats with Intergenerational Malnutrition

Department of Child Psychiatry, Boston University Medical Center, Boston, MA 02118

Mother-pup interactions during the first 12 hours post partum were studied in intergenerationally malnourished and control rats. Pup mortality during the suckling period was found to be associated with nutritional status with only 50% survival in the malnourished series, as compared to 100% survival in the control series. Litters with subsequent high pup mortality were distinguished by abnormal mothering patterns during the first 12 hours of life and reduced pup weight at the end of this period. High pup mortality was associated with increased active nursing, and reductions in passive nursing, pup licking, amount of contact with the pups and time spent in the nest by the lactating female. Thus, the stimulus to active nursing is most intense under conditions where the pups are least likely to survive, whereas the amount of stimulation provided to such pups is reduced. Maximal associations between early mother-pup interactions and subsequent pup weight and survival were present 7–9 hours after birth.

KEY WORDS: • maternal behavior • rats • nursing • malnutrition • protein deficiency • mortality

¹ To whom reprint requests should be sent.

Manuscript received 1 September 1981.