Pubertal decline in maternal responsiveness in Long-Evans rats: maturational influences

Latency to onset of maternal behavior increases progressively from the weanling to the peripubertal period in female and male Long-Evans rats. Gonadectomy or hypophysectomy on day 21 had no influence on the pubertal decline in maternal responsiveness. Apparently, inhibitory neural pathways mature which are independent of pituitary hormonal influences.