Centrally and peripherally induced anosmia: Influences on maternal behavior in lactating female rats

Irwin Benuck*, Frank A. Rowe

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

15 Scopus citations

Abstract

Bilateral removal of the olfactory bulbs was found to produce deficits in several components of the maternal behavior of lactating, primiparous female rats. More dead pups were found in the cages of bilaterally bulbectomized females shortly after parturition than in the cages of unilaterally bulbectomized, sham operated, or unoperated females. Futhermore, bilaterally bulbectomized females showed deficits in pup retrieval relative to females in the other surgical conditions, and pups reared by bilaterally bulbectomized females weighed less at weaning than pups reared by females in the other surgical conditions. In contrast to bilateral bulbecomy, zinc sulphate treatments had no influence on pup mortality at parturition. However, zinc sulphate treated females did exhibit deficits in pup retrieval relative to saline treated females.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)439-447
Number of pages9
JournalPhysiology and Behavior
Volume14
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 1975

Keywords

  • Anosmia
  • Maternal behavior
  • Olfactory bulbs
  • Zinc sulphate

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
  • Behavioral Neuroscience

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