Differential maternal retrieval of jaundiced versus non-jaundiced gunn rat pups

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Abstract
Gunn rat dams were tested for differential retrieval of their jaundiced versus non‐jaundiced offspring in 2 experiments. In Experiment 1, in which testing took place every day from Day 1 to Day 8 postpartum, non‐jaundiced pups were retrieved significantly faster than jaundiced pups. In Experiment 2, in which testing took place every other day from Day 1 to Day 15 and the pups were weighed each test day, the order of retrieval of the 4 gender/genotype (jaundiced vs non‐jaundiced) classifications as found in the 1st experiment was replicated and the non‐jaundiced pups tended to be retrieved faster. Heavier pups were retrieved significantly faster than lighter pups, indicating that weight or size may be a cue to differential retrieval.