Gestational stress decreases postpartum mitochondrial respiration in the prefrontal cortex of female rats

• DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2023.100563
• Publication Date: 2023-08-14T15:58:42Z
• Authors: Erin Gorman-Sandler; Breanna Robertson; Jesseca Crawford; Gabrielle Wood; Archana Ramesh; Olufunke O. Arishe; R. Clinton Webb; Fiona Hollis
• Keywords: Neurophysiology and neuropsychology; Pregnancy; Postpartum; Susceptibility; QP351-495; Chronic unpredictable stress; Neurosciences. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry; Neurology. Diseases of the nervous system; Original Research Article; RC346-429; Prefrontal cortex; Mitochondria; RC321-571

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a major psychiatric complication of childbirth, affecting up to 20% mothers, yet remains understudied. Mitochondria, dynamic organelles crucial for cell homeostasis and energy production, share links with many the proposed mechanisms underlying PPD pathology. Brain mitochondrial function affected by stress, risk factor development PPD, linked anxiety-like social behaviors. Considering importance mitochondria in regulating brain behavior, we hypothesized that dysfunction associated behavioral alterations chronic stress-induced rat model PPD. Using validated translationally relevant mild unpredictable stress paradigm during late gestation, induced PPD-relevant behaviors adult postpartum Wistar rats. In mid-postpartum, measured prefrontal cortex (PFC) nucleus accumbens (NAc) using high-resolution respirometry. We then protein expression complex proteins 4-hydroxynonenal (a marker oxidative stress), Th1/Th2 cytokine levels PFC plasma. report novel findings gestational decreased PFC, but not NAc dams. However, groups controlling effects either or parity alone, no differences respiration regions were observed compared nulliparous controls. This decrease stressed dams was accompanied negative consequences postpartum, complex-I specific deficits expression, increased Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha plasma PFC. Overall, an association between respiration, behaviors, inflammation following highlighting potential role health.