Early olfactory preference learning in rat pups occurs when novel odors are paired with reinforcing tactile stimulation that activate the noradrenergic locus coeruleus. Pairing of odor and a noradrenergic agonist in the olfactory bulb is both necessary and sufficient for odor preference learning. This suggests the memory change occurs in the olfactory bulb. Previous electrophysiological experim...

The present study determines whether maternal administration of prolactin (PRL) to dams promotes the abundance of the brown adipose tissue-specific uncoupling protein-1 (UCP1) in fetal and neonatal rat pups. Recombinant PRL (24 micro g/kg per day), or an equivalent volume of saline, were infused into dams (n=19 per group) throughout pregnancy from 12 h after mating. Interscapular brown adipose ...

Experiments were carried out to determine the threshold level of maternal nicotine that impairs protective responses of rat pups to hypoxia. From days 6 or 7 of gestation, pregnant rats received either vehicle or nicotine (1.50, 3.00, or 6.00 mg of nicotine tartrate. kg body wt(-1).day(-1)) or vehicle continuously via a subcutaneous osmotic minipump. On postnatal days 5 or 6, pups were exposed ...

Lead poisoning is a continuing crisis impacting learning, neurological and behavioral development in children. This study investigated an important outcome from the environmental lead contamination which cause retardation of infant’s brain development. A total 30 Swiss albino mice both sexes were used this divide into three groups consisting 6 female 4 male each group. Two given treated drinkin...

Olfactory-guided huddling is learned and expressed by postnatal day (PND) 15, when rat pups huddle preferentially with conspecifics or with targets bearing an odor previously associated with maternal care. Experiment 1 replicated this induction of an odor-guided huddling preference with a truncated regime of conditioning with a scented foster dam. Pups exposed to an odor in association with fos...

Nutritive deprivation, suckling deprivation, gastronintestinal fill, and milk availability contribute to the control of sucking (as measured by jaw-muscle electromyograph) and ingestion of milk (provided via a tongue cannula) in 11-13-day-old rat pups. Depriving pups of the opportunity to suckle reliably increases subsequent sucking and milk intake. Intraoral delivery of milk also increases suc...

We examined how the experience of a threatening stimulus alters subsequent behavior in a situation where the immediate threat is absent. A small huddle of 12-day-old rats was exposed to a potentially infanticidal adult male rat for 5 min. During male exposure, pups were significantly more immobile than control pups. Thirty, 60, and 180 min after male exposure, the pups were isolated for 5 min f...

Apnea, the temporary cessation of respiratory airflow, is a common cause of intermittent hypoxia (IH) in premature infants. We hypothesized that IH elicits a stress response and alters glucose homeostasis in the neonatal rat. Rat pups were studied on postnatal day (PD) 2, 8, 10, 12, and 14. Pups were exposed to normoxia (control) or six cycles consisting of 30-s exposures to hypoxia (FiO2 = 3%)...

Arousal is an important defense against hypoxia during sleep. Rat pups exhibit progressive arousal impairment (habituation) with multiple hypoxia exposures. The mechanisms are unknown. The medullary raphe (MR) is involved in autonomic functions including sleep and receives abundant GABAergic inputs. We hypothesized that inhibiting MR neurons with muscimol, a GABAA receptor agonist, or preventin...

Methyl parathion induced alterations in the level of monoamines, viz. norepinephrine, dopamine and serotonin were studied in discrete regions of developing central nervous system of rat pups. A significant decrease in the level of monoamines noticed in methyl parathion toxicosis may be related to the altered neuronal activity and inefficiency, leading to depression and impairment in various beh...