Precocial weaning influences anxiety, social and maternal care but not cognition in African striped mice, Rhabdomys dilectus chakae

Abstract

Weaning is a stressful stage in the lives of young mammals. Early weaning, in particular, can lead to long-lasting physiological and psychological changes. We investigated the effects of precocial weaning on anxiety, social behavior, cognition, and maternal behavior in adult African four-striped mice (Rhabdomys dilectus chakae). Mice weaned at 12 days exhibited higher anxiety levels and reduced exploratory behavior in a novel environment compared with those weaned at 16 and 20 days. Early-weaned mice also showed decreased allogrooming and body contact, and increased aggression during social interactions. Females weaned early, groomed, and huddled their pups less, although they spent more time in proximity without touching their pups. Spatial learning and memory were not affected by the age at weaning. Early weaning induces stress-related changes in anxiety, exploration, and social behaviors, all of which are of ecological relevance. Although precocious weaning did not affect cognition, R. d. chakae are likely to be anxious and poor mothers, which could also impact the fitness of their offspring. These effects manifested in behaviors of ecological significance, suggesting that early weaning may influence the fitness of the four-striped mouse