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One study suggests that immune responses in the brains of stressed mothers may help explain postnatal depression.
New evidence from animal studies has linked postnatal depression and inflammation in areas of the brain that regulate moods.
Scientists believe that these discoveries could help them solve the mystery of this state of distress, still poorly understood.
About 15% of new mothers experience postnatal depression – also known as postpartum depression – after childbirth.
Postnatal depression can prevent a mother from bonding with her baby and causing feelings of overwhelming fatigue and helplessness.
Dr. Benedetta Leuner, of Ohio State University in the United States, who led the new study, said, "Understanding the factors that contribute to this serious and widespread disorder will be critical to finding ways to better support women in life. difficulty. "
The research focused on the internal prefrontal cortex, a mood-regulating brain region that had previously been associated with postnatal depression.
We are very excited because it suggests that brain inflammation could contribute to postpartum depression.
Rats were first stressed during pregnancy to mimic a well-known risk factor for the disease.
After birth, the animals showed distinct signs of depression similar to those observed in humans, including a loss of attention from their puppies.
Scientists found that, unlike their unstressed companions, stressed rats had high levels of inflammatory biomarkers in their brains.
Stress has also been shown to be related to changes in the function of brain immune cells called microglia.
Co-author Kathryn Lenz, also from the state of Ohio, said: "It was particularly interesting to find no evidence of increased inflammation in the blood, but we found that, in this region of the brain, it is important for the regulation of mood.
"We are really excited because it suggests that inflammation in the brain could contribute to postpartum depression."
The results were presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience in San Diego.– Press Association
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