Olfactory, thermal, and tactile controls of suckling in preauditory and previsual rats.

Abstract

Exteroceptive control of nipple attachment was determined by altering maternal sensory features. Preauditory and previsual rats, 2, 5, 8 and 11 days of age, were permitted to locate and attach to the nipples of their anesthetized mother after she had received one of the following treatments: thermal-peripheral temperature was lowered to either 31 or 28.degree. C; tactile-the mother was shaved; thermotactile-the mother was shaved and her skin temperature was lowered to 31.degree. C; or olfactory-all nipples were cleaned with methylene chloride and alcohol solvents. Only the olfactory treatment severely affected nipple attachment at all ages studied. Washing the nipples virtually eliminated suckling; painting them with a vacuum distillate of the nipple extract or of pup saliva reinstated suckling. The other manipulations either did not interfere with nipple attachment or did so at one age only.