Investigation of antidepressant-like effects of Acetyl-L-carnitine and fluoxetine on postpartum depression model of mouse

Transition to motherhood involves great biological and psychosocial changes and may present a common complication: postpartum depression (PPD). Almost one in every five women who gives birth is affected from PPD, and its effects may extend beyond the new mother to the child and other counterparts. Its exact pathophysiology remains unclear, but endocrine, immunologic, and genetic/epigenetic components may be involved. Management also has various approaches, but none fully covers all patients. This multifaceted disease also has a common risk factor; stress, which strongly imbalances this delicate newly occurring maternal system. We conducted witnessed social defeat model as an emotional stressor to pregnant BALB/c mice. Stressed mice received acetyl-L-carnitine and fluoxetine treatment via drinking water. ALCAR was chosen because it already has evidential data for its benefits on depression, moreover, it is a well-tolerated, endogenous, amino acid-derived molecule, and its levels decreased during depression, and pregnancy with high demand of fetoplacental unit. After 21 days of treatment, subjects were tested to determine their depressive-like behavior. Nest-building, pup retrieval, forced swimming, open field, elevated plus maze, and sucrose preference tests were performed to compare the groups' performances. Although statistics did not reach significance among postpartum mice, ALCAR is a strong candidate for further research regarding its multiple connections with PPD. It may present its effects via transcription factors or neurotransmitters which have effects on neuronal plasticity, also there could be a neuroinflammatory link to explore. Nevertheless, PPD is a complex and understudied disease that may benefit from this well-matched promising molecule.