RNA-seq of primary rat hypothalamic neurons by short- and long-term estrogen stimulation and withdrawal
Postpartum depression (PPD) is a prevalent neuroendocrine disorder triggered by the abrupt decline of estrogen after delivery. Estrogen withdrawal after delivery profoundly influences neurotransmission, synaptic plasticity, and neuroendocrine function within the hypothalamic pituitary gonadal (HPG) axis. Now primary hypothalamic neurons were prepared from embryonic day 18 (E18) Sprague-Dawley rats, and 1 nM 17ß-estradiol (E2) treatment was performed for 24 h or 60 h to model the short and long term estrogen exposure, then additional 48 h culturing after E2 withdrawal was performed for estrogen withdrawal.