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The Development of Sexual Behavior in the Rat: Role of Preadult Nutrition and Environmental Conditions.

Authors :
Hansen, Stefan
Larsson, Knut
Carlsson, Sven G.
Source :
Developmental Psychobiology; Jan1978, Vol. 11 Issue 1, p51-61, 11p
Publication Year :
1978

Abstract

Rats were subjected to pre- and postnatal undernutrition by restricting the food intake of their mothers (U); another group of rats was normally fed (N). Each nutrition group was divided into 3 subgroups by varying the degree of environmental stimulation: animals in the Max group were stimulated by handling and enriched rearing conditions; the Min group rats were subjected to social isolation; rats in the control condition (C) were raised under ordinary laboratory conditions. The onset of sexual activity was not affected in the U-C male rats, but was delayed in both U-Min and N-Min rats. Although no difference existed in the age of puberty between the N-Max and N-C animals, the U-Max rats displayed an advancement of puberty by 7 days in comparison to the U-C rats. Undernutrition did not affect female sexual maturation; however the Max condition delayed this process in both nutrition groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
00121630
Volume :
11
Issue :
1
Database :
Complementary Index
Journal :
Developmental Psychobiology
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
12802878
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1002/dev.420110109