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Inhibition of suckling in weaning-age rats: a possible serotonergic mechanism.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Williams, CL; Rosenblatt, JS; Hall, WG
Published in: Journal of comparative and physiological psychology
June 1979

The nature, development, and specificity of serotonergic involvement in the control of suckling behavior in rat pups from 10 to 35 days of age were studied. During development, suckling normally declines after 10 days and is abandoned after 30 days. It was found that (a) methysergide, a serotonin (5-HT) receptor blocker, reinstated suckling behavior in pups 15 days of age and older but had no effect on the suckling of 10-day old pups, (b) quipazine, a 5-HT receptor agonist, inhibited suckling of pups 10 days of age and older, (c) methysergide pretreatment blocked the quipazine inhibition of suckling, and (d) metergoline, another 5-HT blocker, also stimulated suckling, and fenfluramine, a 5-HT releaser, blocked suckling in deprived pups. Together, these data support the hypothesis that a serotonergic inhibitory mechanism modulates the suckling of weaning-age rats. These pharmacological manipulations of 5-HT appear to alter specific components of suckling behavior involved in its initiation and maintenance but do not appear to alter a general hunger system.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Journal of comparative and physiological psychology

DOI

ISSN

0021-9940

Publication Date

June 1979

Volume

93

Issue

3

Start / End Page

414 / 429

Related Subject Headings

  • Sucking Behavior
  • Serotonin
  • Rats
  • Quipazine
  • Methysergide
  • Metergoline
  • Fenfluramine
  • Feeding Behavior
  • Cinanserin
  • Behavioral Science & Comparative Psychology
 

Citation

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Williams, C. L., Rosenblatt, J. S., & Hall, W. G. (1979). Inhibition of suckling in weaning-age rats: a possible serotonergic mechanism. Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 93(3), 414–429. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0077592
Williams, C. L., J. S. Rosenblatt, and W. G. Hall. “Inhibition of suckling in weaning-age rats: a possible serotonergic mechanism.Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology 93, no. 3 (June 1979): 414–29. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0077592.
Williams CL, Rosenblatt JS, Hall WG. Inhibition of suckling in weaning-age rats: a possible serotonergic mechanism. Journal of comparative and physiological psychology. 1979 Jun;93(3):414–29.
Williams, C. L., et al. “Inhibition of suckling in weaning-age rats: a possible serotonergic mechanism.Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, vol. 93, no. 3, June 1979, pp. 414–29. Epmc, doi:10.1037/h0077592.
Williams CL, Rosenblatt JS, Hall WG. Inhibition of suckling in weaning-age rats: a possible serotonergic mechanism. Journal of comparative and physiological psychology. 1979 Jun;93(3):414–429.

Published In

Journal of comparative and physiological psychology

DOI

ISSN

0021-9940

Publication Date

June 1979

Volume

93

Issue

3

Start / End Page

414 / 429

Related Subject Headings

  • Sucking Behavior
  • Serotonin
  • Rats
  • Quipazine
  • Methysergide
  • Metergoline
  • Fenfluramine
  • Feeding Behavior
  • Cinanserin
  • Behavioral Science & Comparative Psychology