Oxytocin reinstates maternal olfactory cues for nipple orientation and attachment in rat pups

Abstract

Thoroughly washing the female rat's ventrum with solvents results in a marked deficiency in nipple orientation and attachment by her 8-to-9-day old pups. However, if the thoroughly washed mother is injected with oxytocin, nipple attachment is reinstated even if the nipples are ligated. Thus some substance(s) other than milk excreted in the nipple area acts as an olfactory cue for pups.