Effects of limited bedding and nesting on postpartum mood state in rats
Date
2023-04-26
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Journal of Neuroendocrinology
Abstract
This study examined the effect of limited bedding and nesting (LBN) stress on postpartum anhedonia, maternal behaviors, anxiety-like behaviors, and neuroendocrine and neuroimmune function as a potential model of postpartum depression. Dams underwent sucrose preference tests prior to breeding, during gestation and again postpartum, to examine the potential onset of anhedonia. On embryonic day 19, dams were placed into either a LBN or control housing condition. Contrary to our predictions, LBN stress had no effect on postpartum sucrose preference. We also found no effect of LBN condition on fecal estradiol or corticosterone levels, both of which increased at birth and decreased postpartum. Regardless of housing conditions, approximately 40% of new mothers exhibited a decrease in sucrose preference, while others show no change, suggesting an individual susceptibility to postpartum anhedonia. In a separate cohort of LBN and control dams, we measured pup retrieval, hoarding behavior, elevated plus maze (EPM), and marble burying. LBN dams exhibited increased anxiety, associated with decreased time spent in the open arms of the EPM. We also measured a significant increase in IL-6 expression in the dorsal hippocampus and medial prefrontal cortex of postpartum dams compared to nonpregnant dams. These findings suggest that while LBN stress has effects on anxiety and maternal care, it does not induce postpartum anhedonia. Rather, there are inherent differences in susceptibility to anhedonia in individual dams, and future studies should be conducted to better understand individual vulnerability and resilience to postpartum anhedonia.
Description
This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Gifford, JJ, Pluchino, JR, Della Valle, R, et al. Effects of limited bedding and nesting on postpartum mood state in rats. J Neuroendocrinol. 2023;e13275. doi:10.1111/jne.13275, which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1111/jne.13275. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions. This article may not be enhanced, enriched or otherwise transformed into a derivative work, without express permission from Wiley or by statutory rights under applicable legislation. Copyright notices must not be removed, obscured or modified. The article must be linked to Wiley’s version of record on Wiley Online Library and any embedding, framing or otherwise making available the article or pages thereof by third parties from platforms, services and websites other than Wiley Online Library must be prohibited. © 2023 British Society for Neuroendocrinology. This article will be embargoed until 04/26/2024.
Keywords
anhedonia, anxiety, limited bedding and nesting, postpartum depression, sucrose preference
Citation
Gifford, JJ, Pluchino, JR, Della Valle, R, et al. Effects of limited bedding and nesting on postpartum mood state in rats. J Neuroendocrinol. 2023;e13275. doi:10.1111/jne.13275