Aylin ÖZBEK, Mustafa AKHİSAROĞLU, Onur Burak DURSUN, Fatma VAROL TAŞ, Osman YILMAZ, İlgi ŞEMİN
 

Objective: Loss of a baby accompanied by complicated grief increases vulnerability to mental disease with adverse consequences both for the mother and the long-term well-being of the subsequent generations. This study presents an animal model and aims to study the reactions of female rats to the loss of their litters and the consequences for the next litter.

Methods: Primiparious Sprague-Dawley rats were recruited into three groups: of separation-reunion, complete separation and no-separation. Maternal behaviors following separation, reunion and the birth of the subsequent litter were observed. The blood corticosterone levels of the dams in response to separation and reunion were measured. Learning, activity, anxiety and blood corticosterone response to stress of the second litters were evaluated.

Results: Dams in the separation group spent significantly more time at the nest following reunion, displayed increased pup licking in their second litters compared to their first litters and did not achieve the increased duration of nursing in their second generation litters as observed for the control group. Dams' blood corticosterone levels were significantly influenced by separation and reunion. Pups born to mothers that have experienced an early loss of their previous litters had significantly impaired cognitive abilities compared to controls.

Conclusion: Further analysis of the process of loss in animal models may have clinical implications for bereaved mothers.  (Archives of Neuropsychiatry 2011; 48: 44-52)

Aylin ÖZBEK, Mustafa AKHİSAROĞLU, Onur Burak DURSUN, Fatma VAROL TAŞ, Osman YILMAZ, İlgi ŞEMİN

aylinozbektr@yahoo.com
 

Objective: Loss of a baby accompanied by complicated grief increases vulnerability to mental disease with adverse consequences both for the mother and the long-term well-being of the subsequent generations. This study presents an animal model and aims to study the reactions of female rats to the loss of their litters and the consequences for the next litter.

Methods: Primiparious Sprague-Dawley rats were recruited into three groups: of separation-reunion, complete separation and no-separation. Maternal behaviors following separation, reunion and the birth of the subsequent litter were observed. The blood corticosterone levels of the dams in response to separation and reunion were measured. Learning, activity, anxiety and blood corticosterone response to stress of the second litters were evaluated.

Results: Dams in the separation group spent significantly more time at the nest following reunion, displayed increased pup licking in their second litters compared to their first litters and did not achieve the increased duration of nursing in their second generation litters as observed for the control group. Dams' blood corticosterone levels were significantly influenced by separation and reunion. Pups born to mothers that have experienced an early loss of their previous litters had significantly impaired cognitive abilities compared to controls.

Conclusion: Further analysis of the process of loss in animal models may have clinical implications for bereaved mothers.  (Archives of Neuropsychiatry 2011; 48: 44-52)

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Complicated grief, litter loss, maternal behavior, blood corticosterone level, learning