Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
Ups J Med Sci. 2020 Feb;125(1):30-36. doi: 10.1080/03009734.2019.1702126. Epub 2020 Jan 21.
Prenatal depression is common, with an estimate that up to one in five pregnant women suffers from depressive symptoms. Maternal depression is associated with poor pregnancy outcomes such as preterm birth and low birth-weight. Such outcomes possibly affect offspring development. Previous studies suggest placental RNA levels of the glucocorticoid receptor are altered by maternal depression or anxiety; this stress may affect the placenta of male and female foetuses differently. However, it is unknown if the protein levels and activity of this receptor are additionally affected in women with depressive symptoms or being pharmacologically treated for depression. In this study, we investigated whether the glucocorticoid receptor (NR3C1) in the placenta is affected by maternal depression and/or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRIs) treatment. Placentas from 45 women with singleton, term pregnancies were analysed by Western blot to determine glucocorticoid receptor levels, and by DNA-binding capacity to measure glucocorticoid receptor activation. There were no differences in levels of the glucocorticoid receptor or activity between groups (control, depressive symptoms, and SSRI treatment; = 45). Similarly, there was no difference in placental glucocorticoid receptor levels or activity dependent upon foetal sex. Maternal depression and SSRI treatment do not affect the glucocorticoid receptors in the placenta.
产前抑郁症很常见，据估计多达五分之一的孕妇患有抑郁症状。母亲的抑郁与不良的妊娠结局有关，如早产和低出生体重。这些结果可能会影响后代的发育。先前的研究表明，母体抑郁或焦虑会改变胎盘的糖皮质激素受体的 RNA 水平；这种压力可能会以不同的方式影响男性和女性胎儿的胎盘。然而，目前尚不清楚患有抑郁症状或正在接受抗抑郁药治疗的女性的这种受体的蛋白水平和活性是否会受到影响。在这项研究中，我们研究了母体抑郁和/或选择性 5-羟色胺再摄取抑制剂（SSRIs）治疗是否会影响胎盘的糖皮质激素受体（NR3C1）。通过 Western blot 分析了 45 名单胎足月妊娠妇女的胎盘，以确定糖皮质激素受体水平，并通过 DNA 结合能力测量糖皮质激素受体的激活。在受体水平或活性方面，对照组、抑郁症状组和 SSRIs 治疗组之间没有差异（=45）。同样，胎儿性别也不会影响胎盘糖皮质激素受体的水平或活性。母体抑郁和 SSRIs 治疗不会影响胎盘的糖皮质激素受体。
