scholarly journals The combination of fluoxetine and environmental enrichment reduces postpartum stress-related behaviors through the oxytocinergic system and HPA axis in mice

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hamideh Bashiri ◽  
Danielle J. Houwing ◽  
Judith R. Homberg ◽  
Ali-Akbar Salari
Keyword(s):  
Postpartum Depression ◽  
Hpa Axis ◽  
Environmental Enrichment ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Central Administration ◽  
Postpartum Stress ◽  
High Doses ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms ◽  
Gestational Stress ◽  
The Impact

AbstractGestational stress can increase postpartum depression in women. To treat maternal depression, fluoxetine (FLX) is most commonly prescribed. While FLX may be effective for the mother, at high doses it may have adverse effects on the fetus. As environmental enrichment (EE) can reduce maternal stress effects, we hypothesized that a subthreshold dose of FLX increases the impact of EE to reduce anxiety and depression-like behavior in postpartum dams exposed to gestational stress. We evaluated this hypothesis in mice and to assess underlying mechanisms we additionally measured hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis function and brain levels of the hormone oxytocin, which are thought to be implicated in postpartum depression. Gestational stress increased anxiety- and depression-like behavior in postpartum dams. This was accompanied by an increase in HPA axis function and a decrease in whole-brain oxytocin levels in dams. A combination of FLX and EE remediated the behavioral, HPA axis and oxytocin changes induced by gestational stress. Central administration of an oxytocin receptor antagonist prevented the remediating effect of FLX + EE, indicating that brain oxytocin contributes to the effect of FLX + EE. These findings suggest that oxytocin is causally involved in FLX + EE mediated remediation of postpartum stress-related behaviors, and HPA axis function in postpartum dams.

scholarly journals Trends of Perinatal Stress, Anxiety, and Depression and Their Prediction on Postpartum Depression

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (17) ◽  
pp. 9307
Author(s):  
Ching-Yu Cheng ◽  
Yu-Hua Chou ◽  
Chia-Hao Chang ◽  
Shwu-Ru Liou
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Postpartum Depression ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Late Pregnancy ◽  
Estimating Equation ◽  
Epidemiologic Studies ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Pregnancy And Postpartum ◽  
Postpartum Stress ◽  
Spearman’S Correlation

Perinatal stress, anxiety, and depression impacts not only women but also their child(ren). The purpose of this longitudinal study is to explore trends of stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms from pregnancy to postpartum and understand predictions of stress and anxiety on postpartum depression. One-hundred-fifty-six women at 23–28 weeks gestation (T1), 147 at 32–36 weeks gestation (T2), 129 at over 36 weeks gestation (T3), and 83 at postpartum (T4) completed study surveys. The Perceived Stress Scale, Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale, and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory were used to measure stress, depressive symptoms, and anxiety. Descriptive statistics, Pearson and Spearman’s correlation, and Generalized Estimating Equation were applied to analyze the data. Results showed that levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms increased from 24 weeks gestation to postpartum, whereas stress levels decreased during pregnancy but increased in postpartum. Over half of women experienced anxiety symptoms, especially during late pregnancy and postpartum. Stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms were inter-correlated. Notably, women at late pregnancy and postpartum were prone to stress, anxiety, and depression. Prenatal anxiety could predict postpartum depressive symptoms. Active assessment and management of stress, anxiety, and depression is needed and should begin from early pregnancy and continue until postpartum.

scholarly journals The Impact of Ethologically Relevant Stressors on Adult Mammalian Neurogenesis

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 158 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia Jorgensen ◽  
James Taylor ◽  
Tyler Barton
Keyword(s):  
Social Interactions ◽  
Adult Neurogenesis ◽  
Psychosocial Stress ◽  
Environmental Enrichment ◽  
Functional Integration ◽  
Current Review ◽  
Induced Stress ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms ◽  
The Impact

Adult neurogenesis—the formation and functional integration of adult-generated neurons—remains a hot neuroscience topic. Decades of research have identified numerous endogenous (such as neurotransmitters and hormones) and exogenous (such as environmental enrichment and exercise) factors that regulate the various neurogenic stages. Stress, an exogenous factor, has received a lot of attention. Despite the large number of reviews discussing the impact of stress on adult neurogenesis, no systematic review on ethologically relevant stressors exists to date. The current review details the effects of conspecifically-induced psychosocial stress (specifically looking at the lack or disruption of social interactions and confrontation) as well as non-conspecifically-induced stress on mammalian adult neurogenesis. The underlying mechanisms, as well as the possible functional role of the altered neurogenesis level, are also discussed. The reviewed data suggest that ethologically relevant stressors reduce adult neurogenesis.

scholarly journals Psilocybin microdosing does not affect emotion-related symptoms and processing: A preregistered field and lab-based study

2021 ◽  
pp. 026988112110505
Author(s):  
Josephine Marschall ◽  
George Fejer ◽  
Pascal Lempe ◽  
Luisa Prochazkova ◽  
Martin Kuchar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emotion Processing ◽  
Interoceptive Awareness ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Depression Anxiety Stress Scale ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Symptoms Of Depression ◽  
Range Anxiety ◽  
High Doses ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms

Background: Microdoses of psychedelics (i.e. a sub-hallucinogenic dose taken every third day) can reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress according to anecdotal reports and observational studies. Research with medium to high doses of psilocybin points towards potential underlying mechanisms, including the modulation of emotion and interoceptive processing. Aims: In this preregistered study, we investigated whether psilocybin microdoses alter self-reported interoceptive awareness and whether repeated microdosing over 3 weeks modulates emotion processing and reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression. Methods: We used a double-blind, placebo-controlled, within-subject crossover design. Participants completed the Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness Questionnaire 1½ h after self-administering their second dose (or placebo), and the emotional go/no-go task and the shortened Depression Anxiety Stress Scale 1½ h after self-administering their seventh dose. Results: Our confirmatory analyses revealed that psilocybin microdosing did not affect emotion processing or symptoms of anxiety and depression compared with placebo. Our exploratory analyses revealed that psilocybin microdosing did not affect self-reported interoceptive awareness, that symptoms of depression and stress were significantly reduced in the first block compared with baseline, that participants broke blind in the second block and that there was no effect of expectations. Further research in a substance-naïve population with clinical range anxiety and depressive symptoms is needed to substantiate the potential beneficial effects of microdosing.

scholarly journals The impact of ovarian stimulation for IVF on the developing embryo

Reproduction ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 139 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-34 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margarida Avo Santos ◽  
Ewart W Kuijk ◽  
Nick S Macklon
Keyword(s):  
Ovarian Stimulation ◽  
Embryo Quality ◽  
Assisted Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Perinatal Outcomes ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Reproductive Technologies ◽  
The Past ◽  
High Doses ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms ◽  
The Impact

The use of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) has been increasing over the past three decades, and, in developed countries, ART account for 1–3% of annual births. In an attempt to compensate for inefficiencies in IVF procedures, patients undergo ovarian stimulation using high doses of exogenous gonadotrophins to allow retrieval of multiple oocytes in a single cycle. Although ovarian stimulation has an important role in ART, it may also have detrimental effects on oogenesis, embryo quality, endometrial receptivity and perinatal outcomes. In this review, we consider the evidence for these effects and address possible underlying mechanisms. We conclude that such mechanisms are still poorly understood, and further knowledge is needed in order to increase the safety of ovarian stimulation and to reduce potential effects on embryo development and implantation, which will ultimately be translated into increased pregnancy rates and healthy offspring.

The HPA and immune axes in stress: the involvement of the serotonergic system

2005 ◽  
Vol 20 (S3) ◽  
pp. S302-S306 ◽  
Author(s):  
B.E. Leonard
Keyword(s):  
Stress Response ◽  
Chronic Stress ◽  
Hpa Axis ◽  
Feedback Inhibition ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Serotonergic System ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Acute And Chronic Stress ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Brain

AbstractThe impact of acute and chronic stress on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is reviewed and evidence presented that corticotrophin releasing factor (CRF) is the stress neurotransmitter which plays an important role in the activation of the central sympathetic and serotonergic systems. The activity of CRF is expressed through specific receptors (CRF 1 and 2) that are antagonistic in their actions and widely distributed in the limbic regions of the brain, as well as in the hypothalamus, and on immune cells.The mechanism whereby chronic stress, via the CRF induced activation of the dorsal raphe nucleus, can induce a change in the serotonergic system, involves an increase in the 5HT2A and a decrease in the 5HT1A receptor mediated function. Such changes contribute to the onset of anxiety and depression. In addition, the hypersecretion of glucocorticoids that is associated with chronic stress and depression desensitises the central glucocorticoid receptors to the negative feedback inhibition of the HPA axis. This indirectly results in the further activation of the HPA axis.The rise in pro-inflammatory cytokines that usually accompanies the chronic stress response results in a further stimulation of the HPA axis thereby adding to the stress response. While CRF would appear to play a pivotal role, evidence is provided that simultaneous changes in the serotonergic and noradrenergic systems, combined with the activation of peripheral and central macrophages that increase the pro-inflammatory cytokine concentrations in the brain and blood, also play a critical role in predisposing to anxiety and depression. Neurodegenerative changes in the brain that frequently occur in the elderly patient with major depression, could result from the activation of indoleaminedioxygenase (IDO), a widely distributed enzyme that converts tryptophan via the kynenine pathway to for the neurotoxic end product quinolinic acid.

scholarly journals Enhancing Effects of Environmental Enrichment on the Functions of Natural Killer Cells in Mice

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Run Xiao ◽  
Seemaab Ali ◽  
Michael A. Caligiuri ◽  
Lei Cao
Keyword(s):  
Immune System ◽  
Natural Killer Cells ◽  
Natural Killer ◽  
Environmental Enrichment ◽  
Nk Cell ◽  
Brain Plasticity ◽  
Cell Regulation ◽  
Treatment And Prevention ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms ◽  
The Impact

The environment of an organism can convey a powerful influence over its biology. Environmental enrichment (EE), as a eustress model, has been used extensively in neuroscience to study neurogenesis and brain plasticity. EE has also been used as an intervention for the treatment and prevention of neurological and psychiatric disorders with limited clinical application. By contrast, the effects of EE on the immune system are relatively less investigated. Recently, accumulating evidence has demonstrated that EE can robustly impact immune function. In this review, we summarize the major components of EE, the impact of EE on natural killer (NK) cells, EE’s immunoprotective roles in cancer, and the underlying mechanisms of EE-induced NK cell regulation. Moreover, we discuss opportunities for translational application based on insights from animal research of EE-induced NK cell regulation.

A multimethod investigation of the impact of attentional control on a brief intervention for anxiety and depression.

2020 ◽  
Vol 88 (3) ◽  
pp. 212-225
Author(s):  
Nicholas P. Allan ◽  
Brian J. Albanese ◽  
Matt R. Judah ◽  
Caroline V. Gooch ◽  
Norman B. Schmidt
Keyword(s):  
Brief Intervention ◽  
Attentional Control ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
The Impact

Asymmetrical Attribution of Performance in China

Asian Survey ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 60 (5) ◽  
pp. 978-1003
Author(s):  
Jacqueline Chen Chen ◽  
Jun Xiang
Keyword(s):  
Economic Development ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Central Government ◽  
Cultural Theory ◽  
Political Trust ◽  
Mediation Model ◽  
Multilevel Mediation ◽  
Dual Pathway ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms ◽  
The Impact

Existing studies of the impact of economic development on political trust in China have two major gaps: they fail to explain how economic development contributes to the hierarchical trust pattern, and they do not pay enough attention to the underlying mechanisms. In light of cultural theory and political control theory, we propose adapting performance theory into a theory of “asymmetrical attribution of performance” to better illuminate the case of China. This adapted theory leads to dual pathway theses: expectation fulfillment and local blaming. Using a multilevel mediation model, we show that expectation fulfillment mainly upholds trust in the central government, whereas local blaming undermines trust in local governments. We also uncover a rural–urban distinction in the dual pathway, revealing that both theses are more salient among rural Chinese.

scholarly journals GPER-Deficient Rats Exhibit Lower Serum Corticosterone Level and Increased Anxiety-Like Behavior

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi Zheng ◽  
Meimei Wu ◽  
Ting Gao ◽  
Li Meng ◽  
Xiaowei Ding ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hpa Axis ◽  
Corticosterone Level ◽  
Brain Structures ◽  
Ample Evidence ◽  
Genetic Ablation ◽  
Serum Corticosterone ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms ◽  
G Protein Coupled ◽  
Prolonged Stress

Ample evidence suggests that estrogens have strong influences on the occurrence of stress-related mood disorders, but the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Through multiple approaches, we demonstrate that the G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER) is widely distributed along the HPA axis and in brain structures critically involved in mood control. Genetic ablation of GPER in the rat resulted in significantly lower basal serum corticosterone level but enhanced ACTH release in response to acute restraint stress, especially in the female. GPER-/- rats of either sex displayed increased anxiety-like behaviors and deficits in learning and memory. Additionally, GPER deficiency led to aggravation of anxiety-like behaviors following single-prolonged stress (SPS). SPS caused significant decreases in serum corticosterone in WT but not in GPER-deficient rats. The results highlight an important role of GPER at multiple sites in regulation of the HPA axis and mood.

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