Abstract
Two experiments were carried out on the 31st and 32nd inbred generations of the Maudsley Reactive (MR) and Nonreactive (MNR) strains of rats to assess the contribution of the normal content of their digestive tract to their scores in the open-field test. It was found that the MR strain defecates a significantly greater weight of feces per 24 h than the MNR strain. The MNR strain, however, excretes a greater number of fecal boluses in the same period. Digestive transit time was then measured in the two strains. No differences emerged on this measure. The results together suggest that the differences in open-field defecation between the strains are the result of differential reactivity, rather than reflecting differences in the amount of fecal material in the rectum.
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I thank Dr. S. J. Dimond and Professor G. Westby for advice and encouragement. Dr. R. E. Wimer also made valuable suggestions to improve the manuscript. This work was supported by a University of Wales Postgraduate Studentship.
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Blizard, D.A. The Maudsley strains: The evaluation of a possible artifact. Psychon Sci 19, 145–146 (1970). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03335519
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03335519