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Mice reared with Rat Aunts: Effects on Plasma Corticosterone and Open Field Activity

Nature volume 221, pages 73–74 (1969)Cite this article

Abstract

IN recent experiments newborn C57B1/10 mice were fostered to lactating rat mothers; in some cases rat peers were also present before or after weaning1–4. Mice reared in such conditions were markedly less aggressive, less active in an open field, and preferred a rat to a mouse in a two choice social preference test. Further experiments established that one of the principal variables involved in these shifts in behaviour was the rat mother.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Psychology and Biological Sciences, Purdue University, Lafayette, Indiana, 47907

    VICTOR H. DENENBERG, KENNETH M. ROSENBERG, RICHARD PASCHKE & M. X. ZARROW

Authors
  1. VICTOR H. DENENBERG
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  2. KENNETH M. ROSENBERG
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  3. RICHARD PASCHKE
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  4. M. X. ZARROW
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DENENBERG, V., ROSENBERG, K., PASCHKE, R. et al. Mice reared with Rat Aunts: Effects on Plasma Corticosterone and Open Field Activity. Nature 221, 73–74 (1969). https://doi.org/10.1038/221073a0

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