Environmental enrichment attenuates depressive-like behavior in maternal rats by inhibiting neuroinflammation and apoptosis and promoting neuroplasticity

• Published in: Neurobiology of stress Vol. 30; p. 100624
• Main Authors: Chen, Guopeng, Zhang, Yuhui, Li, Ruiling, Jin, Liuyin, Hao, Keke, Rong, Jingtong, Duan, Hao, Du, Yiwei, Yao, Lihua, Xiang, Dan, Liu, Zhongchun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.05.2024; Elsevier
• Subjects: Cognitive impairment; Environmental enrichment; Neuroinflammation; Neuroplasticity; Postpartum depression; Neuroplasticity; Neuroinflammation; Postpartum depression; Environmental enrichment; Cognitive impairment
• ISSN: 2352-2895; 2352-2895
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2024.100624

Gestational stress can exacerbate postpartum depression (PPD), for which treatment options remain limited. Environmental enrichment (EE) may be a therapeutic intervention for neuropsychiatric disorders, including depression, but the specific mechanisms by which EE might impact PPD remain unknown. Here we examined the behavioral, molecular, and cellular impact of EE in a stable PPD model in rats developed through maternal separation (MS). Maternal rats subjected to MS developed depression-like behavior and cognitive dysfunction together with evidence of significant neuroinflammation including microglia activation, neuronal apoptosis, and impaired synaptic plasticity. Expanding the duration of EE to throughout pregnancy and lactation, we observed an EE-associated reversal of MS-induced depressive phenotypes, inhibition of neuroinflammation and neuronal apoptosis, and improvement in synaptic plasticity in maternal rats. Thus, EE effectively alleviates neuroinflammation, neuronal apoptosis, damage to synaptic plasticity, and consequent depression-like behavior in mother rats experiencing MS-induced PPD, paving the way for new preventive and therapeutic strategies for PPD. •We extend the influence of MS to successfully simulate maternal postpartum depression.•The environment and social support during pregnancy and lactation proved to be very important.•Our study provides new avenues for the prevention and treatment of PPD.•Environment-rich intervention during the whole pregnancy and lactation period providing clues on the impact of the treatment.