TRANSFER OF FOOD PREFERENCES IN MICE (MUS-DOMESTICUS) AT WEANING - THE ROLE OF MATERNAL DIET

This experiment assessed the role of residual cues coming from mother' s diet in the transfer of food preferences from house mouse mothers to their offspring. The experiment was carried out using a large enclosu re (70 x 120 x 15 cm) where the litters were placed with their mother. Mouse pups, after interaction with their mother, could leave the nest to forage in two different areas precluded to their dam. The developm ent of pup behaviour was observed from postnatal days 18 to 24, and fo od consumption was recorded for the same period. The results indicated that under conditions where food can be selected in the absence of th e mother the pups were able to identify the maternal food between two diets available and actually preferred it during the early phase of we aning. Furthermore the strength of this preference seems to be depende nt upon the taste properties of the food.