Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

The Behavior of Human Infants pp 39–55Cite as

A Developmental Analysis of Suckling in the Rat

  • Chapter

Part of the book series: Ettore Majorana International Science Series ((SYLI))

Abstract

Suckling and its development in the newly born rat has been the subject of a burst of research activity in which several investigators in my own laboratory have played an important role. In this article I want to review this research because I believe it is relevant to the study of behavioral development among all mammalian newborn. Although mammals are classified by the possession of mammary glands they could equally well be classified by the capacity for suckling possessed by the young. The development of this capacity and its decline are principal features of infancy among mammalian young and play a central role in their behavioral development.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. J. S. Rosenblatt, The basis of synchrony in the behavioral interaction between the mother and her offspring in the laboratory rat, in: “Determinants of Infant Behavior — III”, B.M. Poss, ed., Methuen, London (1965).

    Google Scholar 

  2. W. R. Holloway, Jr., M. J. Dollinger and V. H. Deneberg, Parturition in the rat: description and assessment, in: “Maternal Influences and Early Behavior,” R.W. Bell and W.P. Smotherman, eds., Spectrum, New York (1980).

    Google Scholar 

  3. D. W. Lincoln, A. Hill and J. B. Wakerley, The milk-ejection reflex of the rat: an intermittent function not abolished by surgical levels of anesthesia, J.Endocr. 57:459 (1973).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. W. G. Hall, C. P. Cramer and E. M. Blass, Ontogeny of suckling in rats: transitions toward adult ingestion, J.Comp.Physiol. Psychol. 91:1141 (1977).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. M. J. Dollinger, W. R. Holloway, Jr. and V. H. Denenberg, The development of behavioral competence in the rat, in: “Maternal Influences and Early Behavior,” R.W. Bell and W. P. Smotherman, eds., Spectrum, New York (1980).

    Google Scholar 

  6. M. L. Stoloff, J. T. Kenny, E. M. Blass and W. G. Hall, The role of experience in suckling maintenance in albino rats, J.Comp. Physiol.Psychol. 94:847 (1980).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. M. L. Leon, P. G. Croskerry and G. K. Smith, Thermal control of mother-young contact in rats, Physiol.Behav. 21:793 (1978).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. S. Reisbick, J. S. Roenblatt and A. D. Mayer, Decline of maternal behavior in the virgin and lactating rat, J.Comp. Physiol.Psychol. 89:722 (1975).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. E. M. Blass, W. G. Hall and M. H. Teicher, The ontogeny of suckling and ingestive behaviors, Prog.Psychobiol.Physiol. Psychol. 8:243 (1979).

    Google Scholar 

  10. C. L. Williams, W. G. Hall and J. S. Rosenblatt, Changing oral cues in suckling of weaning-age rats: possible contributions of weaning, J.Comp.Physiol.Psychol. 94:472 (1980).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. D. N. Lorenz, S. Ellis and A. N. Epstein, Differential effects of GI preloads of colostrum on nipple attachment and milk ingestion of rat neonates, Int.Soc.Dev.Psychobiol. Nov., Cincinnati, Ohio (1980).

    Google Scholar 

  12. S. C. Brake, D. J. Sager, R. Sullivan and M. Hofer, Nutritive and non-nutritive control of sucking and milk consumption in 11–13-day old rat pups, J.Comp.Physiol.Psychol. (submitted) (1981).

    Google Scholar 

  13. W. G. Hall and J. S. Rosenblatt, Suckling behavior and intake control in the developing rat pup, J.Comp.Physiol.Psychol. 91:1232 (1977).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. W. G. Hall and J. S. Rosenblatt, Development of nutritional control of food intake in suckling rat pups, Behav.Biol. 24:413 (1978).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. C. P. Cramer, Infant rats control rate but not volume of milk intake. Int.Soc.Dev.Psychobiol. Nov., Cincinnati, Ohio (1980).

    Google Scholar 

  16. S. C. Brake, V. Wolfson and M. A. Hofer, Electromyographic patterns associated with non-nutritive sucking in 11–13-day-old rat pups, J.Comp.Physiol.Psychol. 93:760 (1979).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. S. C. Brake and M. A. Hofer, Maternal deprivation and prolonged suckling in the absence of milk alter the frequency and intensity of sucking responses in neonatal rat pups, Physiol. Behav. 24:185 (1980).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. J. S. Rosenblatt, The sensorimotor and motivational bases of early behavioral development of selected altricial mammals, in: “Ontogeny of Leaning and Memory,” N.E. Spear and B.A. Campbell, eds., L.Erlbaum, Hillsdale, N.J. (1979).

    Google Scholar 

  19. P.J. Singh and E. Tobach, Olfactory bulbectomy and nursing behavior in rat pups (Wistar DAB), Dev.Psychobiol. 8:151 (1975).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. P. J. Singh, A. M. Tucker and M. A. Hofer, Effects of nasal ZnSO4 irrigation and olfactory bulbectomy on rat pups, Physiol.Behav. 17:373 (1976).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. M. A. Hofer, H. Shair and P. Singh, Evidence that maternal ventral skin substances promote suckling in infant rats, Physiol.Behav. 17:131 (1976).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. P. J. Singh and M. A. Hofer, Oxytocin reinstates maternal olfactory cues for nipple orientation and attachment in rat pups, Physiol.Behav. 20:385 (1978).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. M. H. Teicher and E. M. Blass, First suckling response of the newborn albino rat: the role of olfaction and amniotic fluid, Science, 198:635 (1977).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  24. E. M. Blass and P. E. Pedersen, Alteration of the amniotic environment: an attempt to influence the first nipple attachment, (Abstract) Ann.Mtg.Int.Soc.Dev.Psychobiol. Nov., 1–2 (1979).

    Google Scholar 

  25. E. M. Blass and P. E. Pedersen, Weturn wright to the womb: prenatal and postnatal influences on the first suckling episode, Int.Soc.Dev.Psychobiol. Nov., Cincinnati, Ohio.

    Google Scholar 

  26. M. A. Hofer, A. Fisher and H. Shair, Effects of infraorbital nerve section on survival, growth and suckling behaviors of developing rats, J.Comp.Physiol.Psychol. 95:123 (1981).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. J. T. Kenny and E. M. Blass, Suckling as incentive to instrumental learning in preweaning rats, Science 196:898 (1977).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  28. E. M. Blass, J. T. Kenny, M. Stolnoff, J. P. Bruno, M. H. Teicher and W. G. Hall, Motivation, learning and memory in the ontogeny of suckling in albino rats, in: “Ontogeny of Learning and Memory,” N.E. Spear and B.A. Campbell, eds., L. Erlbaum, Hillsdale, N.J. (1979).

    Google Scholar 

  29. S. C. Brake, Suckling infant rats learn a preference for a novel olfactory stimulus paired with milk delivery, Science 211:506 (1981).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  30. A. Amsel, D. R. Burdette and R. Letz, Appetitive learning, patterned alternation, and extinction in 10-day-old rats with non-lactating suckling as reward, Nature 262:816 (1976).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  31. M. Stanton, W. Dailey and A. Amsel, Patterned (single) alternation in 11- and 14-day-old rats under various reward conditions, J.Comp.Physiol.Psychol. 94:459 (1980).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. M. Stanton and A. Amsel, Adjustment to reward reduction (but no negative contrast) in rats 11, 14, and 16 days of age. J.Comp.Physiol.Psychol. 94:446 (1980).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. A. Amsel, R. Letz, D. R. Burdette, Appletitive learning and extinction in 11-day-old rat pups: effects of various reinforcement conditions, J.Comp.Physiol.Psychol. 91:1156 (1977).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. S. C. Brake, R. Sullivan, D. J. Sager and M. Hofer, Effects of varying milk-delivery contingencies on sucking and nipple attachment in preweaning and weaning rat pups, J.Comp. Physiol.Psychol. (Submitted).

    Google Scholar 

  35. P. E. Pedersen and C. L. Williams, Nipple attachment elicited by a novel odor: a demonstration of early olfactory learning in young pups, Int.Soc.Dev.Psychobiol. Nov., Cincinnati, Ohio.

    Google Scholar 

  36. C. L. Williams, J. S. Rosenblatt and W. G. Hall, Inhibition of suckling in weaning-age rats: a possible serotonergic mechanism, J.Comp.Physiol.Psychol. 93:414 (1979).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. B. Nock, C. L. Williams and W. G. Hall, Suckling behavior of the infant rat: modulation by a developing neurotransmitter system, Pharm.Biochem.Behav. 8:277 (1978).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. W. G. Hall, Feeding and behavioral activation in infant rats, Science 205:206 (1979).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  39. W. G. Hall, The ontogeny of feeding in rats: I. Ingestive and behavioral responses to oral infusions, J.Comp.Physiol. Psychol. 93:977 (1979).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. W. G. Hall and T. E. Bryan, The ontogeny of feeding in rats: II. Independent ingestive behavior, J.Comp.Physiol.Psychol. 94:746 (1980).

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Animal Behavior, Rutgers University, 101 Warren Street, 07102, Newark, New Jersey, USA

    Jay S. Rosenblatt

Authors
  1. Jay S. Rosenblatt
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Rome, Rome, Italy

    Alberto Oliverio

  2. Regional Hospital-Siena, Siena, Italy

    Michele Zappella

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1983 Plenum Press, New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Rosenblatt, J.S. (1983). A Developmental Analysis of Suckling in the Rat. In: Oliverio, A., Zappella, M. (eds) The Behavior of Human Infants. Ettore Majorana International Science Series. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-3784-3_3

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-3784-3_3

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-3786-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4613-3784-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation