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Wallace K, Bowles T, Griffin A, Robinson R, Solis L, Railey T, Shaffery JP, Araji S, Spencer SK. Evidence of Anxiety, Depression and Learning Impairments following Prenatal Hypertension. Behav Sci (Basel) 2022; 12:bs12020053. [PMID: 35200304 PMCID: PMC8869594 DOI: 10.3390/bs12020053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Revised: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, such as Preeclampsia (PreE) and HELLP (hemolysis, elevated liver enzyme, low platelet) syndrome, affects approximately 5–10% of pregnancies and increases the risk of women developing disorders, such as anxiety or depression, in the postpartum period. Using preclinical rodent models, we set out to determine whether rats with a history of PreE or HELLP had evidence of anxiety, depression or cognitive impairment and whether immune suppression during pregnancy prevented these changes in mood and/or cognition. Methods: Timed-pregnant rats were infused with sFlt-1 and/or sEng to induce PreE or HELLP beginning on gestational day 12. After delivery, a battery of validated behavioral assays was used to assess post-partum depression, anxiety and learning. Results: There was no negative effect on maternal pup interaction due to PreE or HELLP; however, hypertensive dams spent more time immobile in the forced swim test (p < 0.0001). Hypertensive dams also spent less time in the open area of the open field (p = 0.001). There were no significant changes in recognition memory (p = 0.08); however, spatial learning was impaired in hypertensive dams (p = 0.003). Immobility time in the forced swim test was positively correlated with increased circulating S100B (p = 0.04), while increased time spent in the outer zones of the open field was negatively correlated with BDNF levels (p < 0.0001). Conclusion: The results from this study suggest that hypertensive pregnancy disorders are associated with depression, anxiety and learning impairments in the post-partum period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kedra Wallace
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS 39216, USA;
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS 39216, USA; (T.B.); (R.R.); (L.S.); (T.R.); (S.A.)
- Department of Neurobiology & Anatomical Sciences, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS 39216, USA
- Correspondence:
| | - Teylor Bowles
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS 39216, USA; (T.B.); (R.R.); (L.S.); (T.R.); (S.A.)
| | - Ashley Griffin
- Program in Neuroscience, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS 39216, USA;
| | - Reanna Robinson
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS 39216, USA; (T.B.); (R.R.); (L.S.); (T.R.); (S.A.)
| | - Lucia Solis
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS 39216, USA; (T.B.); (R.R.); (L.S.); (T.R.); (S.A.)
| | - Teryn Railey
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS 39216, USA; (T.B.); (R.R.); (L.S.); (T.R.); (S.A.)
| | - James P. Shaffery
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS 39216, USA;
| | - Sarah Araji
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS 39216, USA; (T.B.); (R.R.); (L.S.); (T.R.); (S.A.)
| | - Shauna-Kay Spencer
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS 39216, USA;
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS 39216, USA; (T.B.); (R.R.); (L.S.); (T.R.); (S.A.)
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