| Abstract: | The lesion of the mammillary bodies in the adult female did not alter the oestrous cycle, sexual behavior, parturition, or the number and weight of pups at birth. Neither did it alter maternal behavior (nesting behavior, cleaning of the pups, placentophagia, nursing position, retrieving, etc.). Nevertheless, more than 30% of the pups born from the mothers with total lesions of the mammillary bodies died during the first 10 days after birth. The weight of the surviving pups was greatly impaired and the pups showed severe undernourishment. The effects of the lesion of the mammillary bodies on the survival and weight of the pups were dependent on the mass of tissue destroyed in that structure. |
