It was hypothesized that the pain or distress of littermates would yield higher levels of stress-indicators (urinations and defecations) in rats than the pain or distress of nonfamiliar agemates. Albino rats were exposed to the shock of biological littermates, cross-fostered littermates, biological siblings reared in another litter, and unfamiliar agemates. Statistical analysis indicated that, when the subjects were exposed to the shock of biological littermates, urinations and defecations were more frequent than when the subjects were exposed to the shock of the other animals.
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