GABA in the medial prefrontal cortex regulates anxiety-like behavior during the postpartum period. 2021

Sara Sabihi, and Caitlin Goodpaster, and Skyler Maurer, and Benedetta Leuner
Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University Columbus, OH 43210, USA.

The postpartum period is commonly accompanied by emotional changes, which for many new mothers includes a reduction in anxiety. Previous research in rodents has shown that the postpartum attenuation in anxiety is dependent on offspring contact and has further implicated enhanced GABAergic neurotransmission as an underlying mechanism. However, the specific brain regions where GABA acts to regulate the offspring-induced reduction in postpartum anxiety requires further investigation. Here, we test the hypothesis that offspring interactions suppress anxiety-like behavior in postpartum female rats via GABA signaling in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). Our results show a postpartum reduction in anxiety-like behavior, an effect which was abolished by localized infusion of the GABAA receptor antagonist bicuculline in the mPFC. We also show that activation of GABAA receptors in the mPFC by the agonist muscimol was effective in restoring anxiolyisis in mothers separated from their pups. Lastly, we show that heightened anxiety-like behavior in pup-separated mothers was accompanied by a lower number and percentage of activated GABAergic neurons within the mPFC. Together, these results suggest that mother-offspring interactions reduce anxiety-like behavior in postpartum females via GABAA neurotransmission in the mPFC and in doing so provide insight into mechanisms that may become dysfunctional in mothers who experience high postpartum anxiety.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D008426 Maternal Deprivation Prolonged separation of the offspring from the mother. Deprivation, Maternal,Deprivations, Maternal,Maternal Deprivations
D009118 Muscimol A neurotoxic isoxazole isolated from species of AMANITA. It is obtained by decarboxylation of IBOTENIC ACID. Muscimol is a potent agonist of GABA-A RECEPTORS and is used mainly as an experimental tool in animal and tissue studies. Agarin,Pantherine
D011644 Puerperal Disorders Disorders or diseases associated with PUERPERIUM, the six-to-eight-week period immediately after PARTURITION in humans. Disorder, Puerperal,Disorders, Puerperal,Puerperal Disorder
D004195 Disease Models, Animal Naturally-occurring or experimentally-induced animal diseases with pathological processes analogous to human diseases. Animal Disease Model,Animal Disease Models,Disease Model, Animal
D005260 Female Females
D005680 gamma-Aminobutyric Acid The most common inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. 4-Aminobutyric Acid,GABA,4-Aminobutanoic Acid,Aminalon,Aminalone,Gammalon,Lithium GABA,gamma-Aminobutyric Acid, Calcium Salt (2:1),gamma-Aminobutyric Acid, Hydrochloride,gamma-Aminobutyric Acid, Monolithium Salt,gamma-Aminobutyric Acid, Monosodium Salt,gamma-Aminobutyric Acid, Zinc Salt (2:1),4 Aminobutanoic Acid,4 Aminobutyric Acid,Acid, Hydrochloride gamma-Aminobutyric,GABA, Lithium,Hydrochloride gamma-Aminobutyric Acid,gamma Aminobutyric Acid,gamma Aminobutyric Acid, Hydrochloride,gamma Aminobutyric Acid, Monolithium Salt,gamma Aminobutyric Acid, Monosodium Salt
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001007 Anxiety Feelings or emotions of dread, apprehension, and impending disaster but not disabling as with ANXIETY DISORDERS. Angst,Anxiousness,Hypervigilance,Nervousness,Social Anxiety,Anxieties, Social,Anxiety, Social,Social Anxieties

Related Publications

Sara Sabihi, and Caitlin Goodpaster, and Skyler Maurer, and Benedetta Leuner
January 2014, Frontiers in behavioral neuroscience,
Sara Sabihi, and Caitlin Goodpaster, and Skyler Maurer, and Benedetta Leuner
January 2016, The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience,
Sara Sabihi, and Caitlin Goodpaster, and Skyler Maurer, and Benedetta Leuner
August 2022, Biological psychiatry,
Sara Sabihi, and Caitlin Goodpaster, and Skyler Maurer, and Benedetta Leuner
March 2018, Journal of biosciences,
Sara Sabihi, and Caitlin Goodpaster, and Skyler Maurer, and Benedetta Leuner
October 2010, The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience,
Sara Sabihi, and Caitlin Goodpaster, and Skyler Maurer, and Benedetta Leuner
May 2022, International journal of molecular sciences,
Sara Sabihi, and Caitlin Goodpaster, and Skyler Maurer, and Benedetta Leuner
June 2024, Neural regeneration research,
Sara Sabihi, and Caitlin Goodpaster, and Skyler Maurer, and Benedetta Leuner
July 2014, Psychoneuroendocrinology,
Sara Sabihi, and Caitlin Goodpaster, and Skyler Maurer, and Benedetta Leuner
December 2019, The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience,
Copied contents to your clipboard!