Peripartum sertraline impacts maternal neurobehavioral and neurodegenerative mechanisms in pregnant and postpartum mice.

ABSTRACT: Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) are among the most common medications used for depression in postpartum and lactating people, who experience increased depression risk. However, there is a limited understanding of peripartum SSRI impacts on maternal neurobehavioral responses, and particularly those of sertraline, the most prescribed SSRI in United States (US) pregnancies. We administered C57Bl/6 females sertraline via a non-invasive, naturalistic approach (167 mg/L drinking water) from 2 weeks pre-conception through lactation (PND21) or for an equivalent duration in nonpregnant controls. We assessed behavior and molecular brain changes intrapartum and postpartum at ~1 year of age. Chronic sertraline reduced depressive- and anxiety-like behaviors. Pregnancy itself decreased a

SUBMITTER: Blaine B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12532605 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature