Exploratory behavior of female rats born to differently raised mothers

Resumo

Fifty-four rats (Rattus norvegicus Berkenhout, 1832) were raised under four different conditions: individually or in groups and with or without frequent handling. At 90 and 120 days of age were tested in the exploration of a complex environment. Differences in performance between raising types were detected. The animals were mated and after pregnancy and delivery mothers and their litters were weekly submitted to the same exploration tests. After weaning, female pups from each litter were randomly selected and raised under standard conditions. These females were then tested at the same time intervals, i.e. at 90 days and them again at 120 days using the same device for the evaluation of exploratory performance. The results showed no systematic influence of the conditions
under which the corresponding mothers had been raised on the 4 groups of daughters. However, there was a significant difference (p<0,05) in latency to leave the den, time outside the den covered distance between
mothers and daughters. Explanatory possibilities are discussed, with emphasis on the complexity and subtlety of the structuring of the behavioral regulation processes.