Abstract
The OLETF rat model of obesity has been extensively studied as an adult model of hyperphagia-induced obesity. In order to better understand the early circumstances that make OLETF pups obese, we investigated body weight from postnatal day (PND) 1 and examined diurnal maternal behavior over the first three postpartum weeks by undisturbed observations. Male and female OLETF rats weighed significantly more than LETO controls from PND 1 until adulthood. Differences in nursing behavior were observed only in the third postnatal week: OLETF dams exhibited more frequent nursing. OLETF dams displayed less self-directed behaviors and activity, over the entire postpartum period examined. Taken together, these data demonstrate that OLETF males and females are heavier from birth and suggest that maternal factors may contribute to weight differences between the strains.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 402-409 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Physiology and Behavior |
Volume | 89 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 30 Oct 2006 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:The authors thank Dr. Kawano of Otsuka Tokushima Research Institute for the OLETF and LETO rats. OZS was partially supported by the Gonda Brain Research Center, Bar-Ilan University. This work was supported by a grant from the US–Israel Binational Research Foundation to AW and THM. Research in the Developmental Psychobiology lab is partially supported by the Paula Rich Center, Bar-Ilan University.
Funding
The authors thank Dr. Kawano of Otsuka Tokushima Research Institute for the OLETF and LETO rats. OZS was partially supported by the Gonda Brain Research Center, Bar-Ilan University. This work was supported by a grant from the US–Israel Binational Research Foundation to AW and THM. Research in the Developmental Psychobiology lab is partially supported by the Paula Rich Center, Bar-Ilan University.
Funders | Funder number |
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Gonda Brain Research Center | |
Paula Rich Center | |
US-Israel Binational Research Foundation | |
Bar-Ilan University |
Keywords
- CCK
- Maternal care
- Nursing
- Obesity
- Ontogeny
- Weight gain