BEHAVIORAL EFFECTS OF MILK IN THE FETUS

新生的哺乳动物必须获得牛奶才能生存。伸展反应，一个 物种示例-典型的运动行为，通常发生在 最近在老鼠胎中发现了哺乳乳头的现象。 使用可以直接观察健康啮齿动物胚胎的技术 和受控的化学感官液体呈现给胎儿受试者， 现在可以应用实验方法来研究拉伸反应 和其他方面的发育中的哺乳动物胎儿在其 环境。因为胎儿缺乏接触牛奶的特殊经验 不需要牛奶作为它的食物，对牛奶的反应性可以 在幼稚的受试者中研究了一系列的产前年龄。此外，学习 避免了研究新生儿的一些复杂性， 它必须从它的动态平衡关系中去掉 母亲允许测量运动和感觉能力。这个 因此，产前提供了一个独特的测试平台来研究 对功能性行为模式的控制和发展 出生后很重要。对胎儿牵拉反应的研究将作为 一种与胎儿期运动发育直接相关的动物模型 后天行为。在这项建议中，我们将：(A)调查感官 影响拉伸反应表达的因素，(B) 描述组织伸展反应的运动行为的变化， (C)操纵胎儿行为以促进更早的发育表达 和(D)检查胎儿反应的相互作用 到挤奶和其他基于感官的行为。自组织的概念 将被应用于研究胎儿对牛奶的行为反应 理解发展变化过程的模型。

Newborn mammals must acquire milk to survive. The stretch response, an example of species-typical motor behavior that typically occurs during suckling at the nipple, recently has been identified in the rat fetus. Using techniques that permit direct observation of healthy rodent fetuses and controlled presentation of chemosensory fluids to fetal subjects, it is now possible to apply experimental methods to study the stretch response and other aspects of behavior of the developing mammalian fetus in its environment. Because the fetus lacks specific experience with milk and does not require milk for its sustenance, responsiveness to milk can be studied in naive subjects over a range of prenatal ages. Moreover, study of the fetus obviates some of the complexities of studying the newborn, which by necessity must be removed from its homeostatic relationship with the mother to permit measurement of motor and sensory abilities. The prenatal period thus provides a unique testing ground for investigating the control and development of behavioral patterns that become functionally important after birth. Study of the fetal stretch response will serve as an animal model of prenatal motor development with direct relevance for postnatal behavior. In this proposal, we will: (a) investigate sensory factors that influence the expression of the stretch response, (b) characterize changes in motor behavior that organize the stretch response, (c) manipulate fetal behavior to promote earlier developmental expression of the stretch response, and (d) examine the interaction of fetal responses to milk and other sensory-based behavior. The concept of self-organization will be applied to the study of fetal behavioral responses to milk as a model for understanding the process of developmental change.