A Time to Wean? Impact of Weaning Age on Anxiety-Like Behaviour and Stability of Behavioural Traits in Full Adulthood.

ABSTRACT: In mammals, weaning constitutes an important phase in the progression to adulthood. It comprises the termination of suckling and is characterized by several changes in the behaviour of both mother and offspring. Furthermore, numerous studies in rodents have shown that the time point of weaning shapes the behavioural profile of the young. Most of these studies, however, have focused on 'early weaning', while relatively little work has been done to study 'late weaning' effects. The aim of the present study was therefore to explore behavioural effects of 'late weaning', and furthermore to gain insights into modulating effects of weaning age on the consistency of behavioural expressions over time. In total, 25 male and 20 female C57BL/6J mice, weaned after three (W3) or four (W4) weeks of age,

SUBMITTER: Richter SH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5145172 | biostudies-literature | 2016

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature