Development of sucrose preference in rabbit pups

Taste preference behavior in developing rabbit pups was examined at 2-4 days, 6-8 days and 14-16 days postnatally. 0.3 M sucrose and distilled water were presented alternately at 2 min. intervals, and volumes ingested were recorded. Sweet preferences were not expressed until late in the second postnatal week. Since it is known that rabbit pups exhibit distinctive facial displays to different taste stimuli at birth (Ganchrow et al., 1979) the delay in the expression of sweet preference was postulated to be related to the postnatal maturation of neural processes central to peripheral and brainstem gustatory coordinating mechanisms.