Maguire Jamie, Mody Istvan
Department of Neurology, The David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
Neuron. 2008 Jul 31;59(2):207-13. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2008.06.019.
Fluctuating neurosteroid levels over the ovarian cycle modulate neuronal excitability through effects on GABA(A) receptors (GABA(A)Rs). The large increase in progesterone-derived neurosteroids during pregnancy and their precipitous decline at parturition may have considerable effects on GABA(A)Rs during pregnancy and postpartum. Here we show a significant decrease in tonic and phasic inhibitions in pregnant mice, mediated by a downregulation of GABA(A)R delta and gamma2 subunits, respectively, which rebounds immediately postpartum. Mice which do not exhibit GABA(A)R delta subunit regulation throughout pregnancy (Gabrd(+/-) and Gabrd(-/-)) exhibit depression-like and abnormal maternal behaviors, resulting in reduced pup survival. These abnormal postpartum behaviors were ameliorated in Gabrd(+/-) mice by a GABA(A)R delta-subunit-selective agonist, THIP. We suggest that Gabrd(+/-) and Gabrd(-/-) mice constitute a mouse model of postpartum depression that may be useful for evaluating potential therapeutic interventions.
在卵巢周期中波动的神经甾体水平通过对γ-氨基丁酸A型受体(GABA(A)Rs)的作用来调节神经元兴奋性。孕期孕酮衍生的神经甾体大幅增加,而在分娩时急剧下降,这可能在孕期和产后对GABA(A)Rs产生相当大的影响。在此我们表明,妊娠小鼠的紧张性和相位性抑制显著降低,分别由GABA(A)R δ和γ2亚基的下调介导,产后立即反弹。在整个孕期不表现出GABA(A)R δ亚基调节的小鼠(Gabrd(+/-)和Gabrd(-/-))表现出抑郁样和异常的母性行为,导致幼崽存活率降低。在Gabrd(+/-)小鼠中,一种GABA(A)R δ亚基选择性激动剂THIP改善了这些异常的产后行为。我们认为,Gabrd(+/-)和Gabrd(-/-)小鼠构成了产后抑郁症的小鼠模型,可能有助于评估潜在的治疗干预措施。