Elucidation of the molecular mechanism of emotional fluctuation during pregnancy and puerperium

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 17K11246
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Obstetrics and gynecology
• Research Institution: Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Matsuda Ken Ichi 京都府立医科大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 准教授 (40315932)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: 妊娠 / 産褥 / 扁桃体 / 梨状皮質 / 女性ホルモン / 情動

Outline of Final Research Achievements

It is a widely known that emotional changes are likely to occur in pregnant and postpartum women. Occasionally, it exceeds the healthy range and causes a pathological condition such as depression. The cause may be that nerve cells in the brain undergo functional changes in response to dramatic changes in ovarian hormones. In this research project, the amygdala, the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis and the piriform cortex were identified as regions where nerve morphology fluctuates during pregnancy. Suppression of the ovarian hormone receptor expression in these areas resulted in decreased anxiety behavior. This study clarified the correlation between emotional fluctuations associated with pregnancy/delivery and the hormone receptor molecule.

Free Research Field

神経内分泌学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

妊娠・産褥期に見られる情動の変化は、女性のキャリアに対して負の影響を与える可能性を生じさせる。精神病態に至れば、社会からのドロップアウトを余儀なくされることにもなり得る。本研究で、妊娠・産褥期に変化が生じる脳領域、情動変化に影響を与えるホルモン受容体が明らかになった。この成果は、ヒトでの精神病態移行の予防の標的を示唆しており、また、今後、精神病態の治療法の開発のためにもの有用な基礎的情報となった。