EFFECTS OF EARLY SOCIAL DEPRIVATION ON REPRODUCTIVE BEHAVIOR OF MALE RATS

Approximately 40 male rat pups were taken from their mothers within 24 hr. of birth and for 30 days were reared (1) with mother and pups, (2) with mother alone, (3) in incubators with pups alone, or (4) in incubators in isolation. At approximately 200 days of age, Ss were given 4 mating tests, 7 days apart. Only Ss reared with mothers exhibited copulation and ejaculation; there were no essential differences between those reared with or without other pups. Pups raised in incubators spent as much time in contact with the stimulus females during the tests as did mother-reared pups and many exhibited the behavior that generally precedes normal mating; however, only a single incubator-reared S achieved an appropriate mount. (16 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved). © 1969 American Psychological Association.