الفهرس 
An undisturbed development of the brain
Maternal separationOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
The present work aimed at studying the immediate and late effects of maternal separation on some organs related to psychic, metabolic and lactation functions in both the mother and their new-born albino rat pups, mainly from the microscopical point of view. Twenty pregnant albino rat females and their pups were divided immediately after delivery into two equal groups I and II. Each group was further subdivided into two subgroups A and B. Subgroup IA included mothers and pups not separated from each other for 21 days. Subgroup IB included mothers and pups separated for three hours daily, from PND 6 till PND 21. Subgroup IIA included mothers and pups not separated for 21 days then pups were completely separated and weaned until PND 30. Subgroup IIB included mothers and pups separated for three hours daily, from PND 6 till PND 21, and then pups were completely separated and weaned until PND 30. Mothers of subgroup IA showed a picture of mild hyperactivity of the suprarenal cortex and their hippocampus was mildly affected due to the state of mild stress. Mothers of subgroup IIA showed a normal appearance of the suprarenal cortex and the hippocampus. Mothers of subgroups IB and IIB showed a picture of over active suprarenal cortex and their hippocampus showed signs of sever degenerative changes. The mammary gland of mothers of subgroup IB showed a picture of hypofunction or early involution. Examination of the suprarenal cortex, hippocampus and thyroid gland of pups of subgroups IA and IIA were almost normal, except for a picture of low activity of the suprarenal cortex in subgroup IA. Pups of subgroups IB and IIB showed more signs of steroidogenic activity in the suprarenal cortex compared to those of subgroups IA and IIA respectively, and their hippocampus exhibited severe degenerative changes. However, the thyroid gland showed a picture of hyperactivity in subgroup IB, while it showed a picture of hypoactivity in subgroup IIB. The mean final body weight of pups of subgroup IB showed a significant decrease when compared to subgroup IA, while subgroup IIB showed a significant increase when compared to subgroup IIA. Moreover, the weight gain in the separated pups was significantly more than that obtained in the non-separated group. Results of subgroup IIB in both the mothers and pups showed that the effects of maternal separation extended to later life after weaning.