Estrogen (E2) withdrawal is a core pathology mechanism for postpartum depression (PPD). Galanin (GAL), an estrogen-inducible neuropeptide has also been reported to be associated with depression. However, it still remains unclear which GAL receptors (GALRs) are involved in PPD pathologic process. In the present study, we discovered that the expression of GALR1, rather than GALR2/3, was upregulated with a region-specific pattern in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of E2 withdrawal induced PPD model rats. Meanwhile, c-fos was also upregulated only in PFC in the same animal model. Injection of GALR1-siRNA into the bilateral PFC ameliorated depressive-like behavior of PPD rats, suggesting that the upregulation of GALR1 in PFC is involved in PPD. Moreover, Western Blot and HPLC assays demonstrated that the downregulation of CREB-BDNF signaling and 5-HT levels in the PFC of PPD rats were reversed after GALR1-siRNA injection. These comprehensive results suggest that the knock down of GALR1 in PFC alleviates depressive-like behaviors and reverse downregulation of CREB-BDNF and 5-HT levels in PPD rat model. HIGHLIGHTS Expression level of GALR1 mRNA was significantly increased in PFC of estrogen withdraw-induced PPD rats. Injecting GALR1-siRNA into PFC alleviated depressive-like behavior and reversed the decrease of 5-HT level and CREB/BDNF signaling in PFC of PPD rats.
Keywords: 5-HT; BDNF; CREB; GALR1; PFC; PPD.