Journal article
Estradiol modulates anhedonia and behavioral despair in rats and negative affect in a subgroup of women at high risk for postpartum depression
Physiology & behavior, Vol.119, pp.137-144
07/02/2013
DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2013.06.009
PMCID: PMC3772627
PMID: 23770328
Abstract
In an effort to address inconsistencies in the literature, we tested a cross-species estrogen withdrawal model of postpartum depression (PPD) with a series of rodent experiments and a prospective, naturalistic human study. All rats were ovariectomized prior to experimentation. The first rat experiment examined the effects of low- and high-dose estradiol administration and withdrawal on lateral-hypothalamic self-stimulation, a behavioral index of anhedonia, in experimental (n=7) and vehicle-only control animals (n=7). The second rat experiment examined the effects of high-dose estradiol withdrawal on activity and immobility during the forced swim test, an index of behavioral despair, in a separate group of experimental (n=8) and vehicle-only control animals (n=8). In the human study, women with (n=8) and without (n=12) a history of PPD completed mood ratings and collected saliva samples (to assess estradiol levels) daily during the third trimester of pregnancy through 10days postpartum. The presence of PPD was assessed at one month postpartum. In the animal studies, rats in the estradiol withdrawal group demonstrated significantly greater immobility and less swimming than controls. Estradiol withdrawal resulted in reduced responding for electrical stimulation (multiple intensities) relative to estradiol administration. In the human study, there was no significant association between estradiol and negative affect among women with or without a history of PPD. However, there was a correlation between daily estradiol levels and negative affect in the women with incident PPD at one month postpartum. Despite important cross-species differences, both the rat and human studies provided evidence of the effects of estradiol on perinatal depressive symptoms.
•Estradiol withdrawal was associated with behavioral despair and anhedonia in rodents.•Perinatal estradiol was not associated with negative affect in all women.•Estradiol and negative affect were positively correlated in women with incident PPD.•Rodent and human data suggest estradiol affects perinatal depressive symptoms.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Estradiol modulates anhedonia and behavioral despair in rats and negative affect in a subgroup of women at high risk for postpartum depression
- Creators
- Crystal Edler Schiller - Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 10514 Neurosciences Hospital, 101 Manning Drive, Campus Box 7160, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7160, USAMichael W O'Hara - Department of Psychology, The University of Iowa, E11 Seashore Hall, Iowa City, IA 52242-1409, USADavid R Rubinow - Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 10514 Neurosciences Hospital, 101 Manning Drive, Campus Box 7160, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7160, USAAlan Kim Johnson - Department of Psychology, The University of Iowa, E11 Seashore Hall, Iowa City, IA 52242-1409, USA
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Physiology & behavior, Vol.119, pp.137-144
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.physbeh.2013.06.009
- PMID
- 23770328
- PMCID
- PMC3772627
- NLM abbreviation
- Physiol Behav
- ISSN
- 0031-9384
- eISSN
- 1873-507X
- Publisher
- Elsevier Inc
- Grant note
- DOI: 10.13039/100006324, name: American Psychological Association; DOI: 10.13039/100000050, name: NHLBI, award: HL-14388, HL-62261; DOI: 10.13039/100000025, name: NIMH, award: MH-80241; DOI: 10.13039/100000097, name: National Center for Research Resources (NCRR), award: UL1 RR024979; name: NIH Roadmap for Medical Research
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 07/02/2013
- Academic Unit
- Psychological and Brain Sciences; Neuroscience and Pharmacology; Health, Sport, and Human Physiology
- Record Identifier
- 9984002470102771
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