AJP - Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology, Vol 265, Issue 4 749-R755, Copyright © 1993 by American Physiological Society
Development of meadow voles is influenced postnatally by maternal photoperiodic history
T. M. Lee
Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 48104-1687.
The importance of maternal photoperiodic history during lactation on the
postnatal development of meadow vole pups was tested by cross-fostering
pups on the day of birth between photorefractory females (housed for 26 wk
in a 10:14-h light-dark cycle before mating) and photosensitive females
(housed for 2 wk in a 10:14-h light-dark cycle before mating). Control pups
were cross-fostered to females with the same photoperiodic history as the
gestational dam. Somatic growth and food intake of cross-fostered pups were
influenced by the photoperiod of the postnatal lactating dam. Pre- and
postnatal maternal photoperiodic history interacted with the sex of the
offspring to influence reproductive development. Pelage development was
determined exclusively by the prenatal maternal photoperiodic history. The
impact of a postnatal maternal influence on pup development of
photoperiod-sensitive traits is discussed.
