Maternal behavior of primiparous and multiparous rats.

Abstract

In a comparison of nursing, nest building, and retrieving, no significant differences of any kind were found between primiparous and multiparous female rats. In both groups, nursing was found to remain at a fairly high level throughout the entire maternal episode, while nest building and retrieving decreased progressively after the 1st 9 days postpartum. Several questions were raised regarding the nature of the interrelationships among the components of the rat''s maternal repertoire.