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The new research suggests that the immune system could play an important role in the development of postpartum depression after a stressful pregnancy.
Areas of the brain responsible for mood regulation showed signs of inflammation in the study, which used an animal model of postpartum depression to examine the possible link between the immune system, the brain and trouble. The study by Ohio State University researchers was presented on November 6 in San Diego at the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience.
"Postpartum depression is little studied and therefore remains poorly understood," said lead author Benedetta Leuner, an associate professor of psychology at Ohio State.
"Better understanding the factors that contribute to this serious and prevalent disorder will be critical in finding ways to better help women in difficulty."
Postpartum depression is common after childbirth – about 15% of new mothers have this condition, which has various symptoms, including prolonged depression, a difficult relationship with the baby, overwhelming fatigue and hopelessness.
"In the United States, at least half a million women suffer from postpartum depression every year, which is probably a low estimate. It's surprising how little we know about how this happens, "Leuner said.
Previous research has focused on potential hormonal explanations for postpartum depression, although previous work has been done on the immune system. In these studies, scientists examined the signs of inflammation in the blood and found mixed results.
This study examined the internal prefrontal cortex, a region of the brain related to mood, previously implicated in postpartum depression.
For the experiment, rats were stressed during pregnancy to mimic a well-known risk factor for postpartum depression in the human mother. Similar to the behaviors observed in women with postpartum depression, stressed animals showed a loss of attention to their puppies and a behavior similar to that of depression and anxiety during various tasks .
And, unlike the unstressed comparison animals, stressed rats had higher levels of inflammatory markers in their brain tissue, said Leuner. In addition, researchers have found evidence that stress can cause changes in the functioning of certain immune cells of the brain, called microglia.
The co-author of the study, Kathryn Lenz, assistant professor of psychology at the Ohio State, said she was increasingly interested in the role of the immune system and its subsequent effects. on the brain in mood disorders, including postpartum depression.
"It was particularly interesting that we did not find any evidence of an increase in inflammation in the blood, but we found it in this area of the brain that is important for regulating blood." l & # 39; mood. We are really excited because it suggests that brain inflammation may contribute to postpartum depression, "said Lenz.
"Ultimately, this could be a better target for treatment, whether through medications or other techniques, such as meditation, diet and stress reduction," he said. she said.
"Postpartum depression is debilitating and can have a negative impact on the whole family. We hope this research and future research will improve the lives of women and their families, "said Leuner.
-Newswise
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