title: Maternal depression model: long-lasting effects on the mother following separation from pups.
abstract: This study was carried out to ascertain the effects of maternal separation (3 h per day) of mothers from their pups in the neonatal period in rats, which has been suggested to induce a depressive-like state, would have long lasting effects on different parameters including hippocampal Na(+), K(+)-ATPase activity, NO production, free radical production and antioxidant enzymes activities in dams. Fourty-eight Wistar rats were divided into 3 groups: control, brief separation (10 min) and long separation (3 h). The neonatal interventions were done on postpartum days 1-10. At 35 days post-partum the dams were killed and the hippocampal Na(+), K(+)-ATPase activity were measured, as well as the activity of the antioxidant enzymes catalase, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, free radicals production, and the production of nitric oxide. Hippocampal Na(+), K(+)-ATPase activity was decreased in the brief separated group and in dams subjected to 3 h separation from their pups. A reduction in nitric oxide levels in the hippocampus in dams of the long separated group was also observed. It is concluded that the withdrawal of pups from their mothers make the mothers more susceptible to the development of neurochemical alterations that could be related to depressive features.
authors: Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. edutoigo@gmail.com
authors: Eduardo
authors: E
authors: von Poser Toigo
authors: Luisa A
authors: LA
authors: Diehl
authors: Andréa G K
authors: AG
authors: Ferreira
authors: Vanize
authors: V
authors: Mackedanz
authors: Vanize
authors: V
authors: Mackendanz
authors: Rachel
authors: R
authors: Krolow
authors: André N D
authors: AN
authors: Benitz
authors: Cristie
authors: C
authors: Noschang
authors: Ana Paula
authors: AP
authors: Huffell
authors: Patrícia P
authors: PP
authors: Silveira
authors: Angela T S
authors: AT
authors: Wyse
authors: Carla
authors: C
authors: Dalmaz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D003863:Depression / Q000473:pathology* / Q000523:psychology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D009569:Nitric Oxide; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase