. 2019 Nov 13;9:16701. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-53241-y

Table 1.

Scarcity-Adversity model of low shavings (LS) induces abusive maternal behavior to pups for 5 days beginning when pups are postnatal day (PN)8.

Maternal Behavior	Control (% of obs)	LS (% of obs)	Stat
Nursing	52.78 ± 19.44	50 ± 9.62	t₍₄₎ = 0.13, p = 0.9
In nest	75 ± 14.43	80.56 ± 12.11	t₍₄₎ = 0.29, p = 0.78
Step on pups	11.11 ± 2.78	52.78 ± 2.78*	t₍₄₎ = 10.6, p < 0.001
Scattered litter	2.78 ± 2.78	50 ± 17.34^#	t₍₄₎ = 2.69, p = 0.054
Drag pups	0 ± 0	27.78 ± 2.78*	t₍₄₎ = 10, p < 0.001
Average pup weight (g)	24.07 ± 0.45	22.42 ± 0.69	t₍₄₎ = 1.54, p = 0.19

Rat mothers have a strong motivation to build a nest for the pups and providing insufficient material (wood shavings) stresses the mother and induces rough handling of pups, such as stepping on pups, dragging pups out of the nest and scattering the litter. The rough handling does not produce any visible signs on pups. Nurturing maternal behaviors such as time in the nest and nursing occur at similar levels to controls and LS pups gain weight and appear to mature at a level similar to controls pups. N’s = 3 pups/group, 1 pup/litter.