Characterization of maternal motivation in the lactating rat: Contrasts between early and late postpartum responses

We previously assessed the motivational properties of pups relative to those of cocaine in parturient female rats (dams) across the postpartum period and demonstrated that the larger subset of dams in early postpartum (PPD8) preferred the pup-associated chamber, whereas the majority of dams tested in late postpartum (PPD16) preferred the cocaine-associated chamber [Mattson, B.J., Williams, S., Rosenblatt, J.S., Morrell, J.I. 2001. Comparison of two positive reinforcing stimuli: pups and cocaine throughout the postpartum period. Behav. Neurosci., 115, 683-694; Seip, K.M., Morrell, J.I. 2007. Increasing the incentive salience of cocaine challenges preference for pup- over cocaine-associated stimuli during early postpartum: place preference and locomotor analyses in the lactating female rat. Psychopharmacology 194, 309-319]. The present study uses a dual-choice conditioned place preference to ask how the progression of the postpartum period, including natural pup development, influences maternal motivation for pups. Preferences for cued chambers associated with pups that were age-matched to the postpartum stage of the dam in contrast to a stimulus with little incentive salience were higher during the early than the late postpartum, suggesting that the incentive salience of pups diminishes as the postpartum period progresses. Preferences of the early postpartum dams deprived of pups for 15 min, 2, 6, 12 or 22 hrs prior to conditioning and testing did not differ statistically but there was a trend of more pup preference after 22 hr deprivation; pup age was not an important factor in early postpartum. In marked contrast, late postpartum dams only exhibited robust pup-associated place preference when they were conditioned with young (4-7 day-old) pups or after a 22 hr period of deprivation from contemporaneous pups. Together these results suggest that both forces are at work in the mother-pup dyad, changes in the pups as they develop and changes in the physiological and endocrine state of the female as she progresses through the postpartum period.     

Depressive and anxiety symptoms in the early puerperium are related to increased degradation of tryptophan into kynurenine,a phenomenon which is related to immune activation

There is now some evidence that i) the availability of plasma tryptophan, the precursor of serotonin, is significantly lower in pregnant women at the end of term and the first few days after delivery than in nonpregnant women; and ii) both pregnancy and the early puerperium are accompanied by activation of the inflammatory response system. The aims of the present study were to examine the effects of pregnancy and delivery on plasma kynurenine, a major tryptophan catabolite synthesized after induction of indoleamine-2, 3 dioxygenase (IDO) by pro-inflammatory cytokines. We measured plasma kynurenine and tryptophan and immune markers, such as serum interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-8 and the leukemia inhibitory factor-receptor (LIF-R) in healthy, nonpregnant and pregnant women at the end of term and one and three days after delivery. Plasma kynurenine was significantly lower in pregnant women at the end of term than in nonpregnant women, findings which may be attributed to lower plasma tryptophan at the end of term. The kynurenine/tryptophan (K/T) quotient was significantly higher in the pregnant women at the end of term and in the early puerperium than in nonpregnant women. In the early puerperium there was a significant increase in plasma kynurenine and the K/T quotient. The increases in plasma kynurenine and the K/T quotient were significantly more pronounced in women whose anxiety and depression scores significantly increased in the puerperium. The changes from the end of term to the early puerperium in plasma kynurenine and the K/T quotient were significantly related to those in the immune markers. It is concluded that 1) lower plasma kynurenine at the end of term is the consequence of lower plasma tryptophan; 2) the increased K/T quotient at the end of term and in the early puerperium indicates inflammation-induced degradation of tryptophan along the kynurenine pathway; and 3) that depressive and anxiety symptoms in the early puerperium are (causally) related to an increased catabolism of tryptophan into kynurenine, a phenomenon which probably results from immune activation.     

Influences of diet during gestation on potential postpartum reproductive performance and milk production of beef heifers

The influences of nutritional protein and energy during early and mid pregnancy on milk production and postpartum reproductive parameters were determined in 70 beef heifers of two composite breeds (Bos indicus X Bos taurus). At artificial insemination (AI), heifers were divided into four dietary treatment groups identified by the level of protein, and to a lesser extent energy, fed during the first and second trimesters: high/high (HH), high/low (HL), low/high (LH), and low/low (LL). Milk production was lower in the heifers receiving high treatment in first trimester than that in heifers receiving the low treatment (P = 0.01). Milk production was negatively associated with dam body condition score (BCS; P = 0.01), nonesterified fatty acids (P = 0.001), and leptin (P = 0.02) and positively associated with urea (P < 0.001) concentrations during lactation. Increased dietary protein in the first trimester increased or decreased concentrations of colostral protein dependent upon genotype (P = 0.03). Colostral protein was positively associated with bovine pregnancy associated glycoprotein from late gestation (P = 0.007). Milk fat was negatively associated with BCS (P = 0.007) and influenced by genotype (P = 0.003). Dietary treatment did not affect the postpartum reproductive performance of beef heifers. Gestation length (P < 0.001) and the postpartum interval to first estrus (PPI; P = 0.02) were positively associated with calf size. Placental size was negatively associated with placental expulsion time (P < 0.01). Prepartum BCS of the heifers was negatively associated with PPI (P = 0.01). Overall, high levels of nutrition during early gestation are detrimental to milk production in beef heifers.     

Effect of PGF2α and GnRH on the reproductive performance of postpartum dairy cows subjected to synchronization of ovulation and timed artificial insemination during the warm or cold periods of the year

This study was designed to evaluate the reproductive performance of lactating dairy cows (Holstein Friesian) after the injection of PGF_2α analogue on Day 15 postpartum, and GnRH analogue on Day 23 after artificial insemination (AI) with Presynch (two injections of PGF_2α, administered 14 days apart starting at 30–35 days postpartum) + Ovsynch-based (GnRH–7 days–PGF_2α–2 days–GnRH–16–20 hours–timed artificial insemination) treatments, during the warm and cold periods of the year. All the cows (n = 313) were assigned to one of the four groups including: M₁ (n = 72) in which the cows were treated with PGF_2α on Day 15 postpartum + Presynch-Ovsynch + GnRH on Day 23 post-AI; M₂ (n = 41) in which the cows received PGF_2α on Day 15 postpartum + Presynch-Ovsynch; M₃ (n = 100) including the cows that got Presynch-Ovsynch; and control group (n = 100) including the cows that were not treated and were inseminated at natural estrus. Pregnancy diagnosis was performed 28 to 35 days post-insemination by means of ultrasound. The results showed that treatment with PGF_2α on Day 15 postpartum significantly decreased the days to conception and the number of services per conception (P < 0.01) and it also improved the first service conception rate (P < 0.1) only in cows that were treated with M₂ protocol. Whereas, the days to first service was not influenced by the treatment of PGF_2α on Day 15 postpartum (P > 0.05). In contrast, administration of GnRH on Day 23 post-AI increased the days to conception and the number of service per conception (P < 0.01) and tended to decrease the first service conception rate (P < 0.1) in cows that were treated with M₁ compared with M₂ protocol. Therefore, it was concluded that Presynch-Ovsynch protocol could be more reproductive and beneficial when a single treatment with PGF_2α was administered at 15 days postpartum (15 days after the PGF_2α, Presynch-Ovsynch protocol was initiated). Interestingly, the administration of a GnRH agonist on Day 23 post-AI not only did not improve the reproductive performance of the cows receiving first postpartum timed artificial insemination after Presynch-Ovsynch protocol but also reduced that.     

乳杆菌活菌胶囊在配合治疗产后滴虫性阴道炎中的价值

目的探讨应用乳杆菌活菌胶囊在配合治疗产后滴虫性阴道炎中的作用。方法将90例患滴虫性阴道炎的产后妇女随机分为2组,研究组应用甲硝唑400 mg,每日2次,连服7 d,同时每日晚塞1粒乳杆菌活菌胶囊入阴道,连用10 d;对照组应用甲硝唑400 mg,每日2次,连服7 d。2组患者14 d后复查并检查白带常规,对其临床治愈率、白带清洁度、pH进行比较。30 d后随访检查滴虫性阴道炎复发情况。结果用药后研究组治愈率高于对照组,2组差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);研究组、对照组pH均有降低,但研究组pH低于对照组,2组差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);用药后研究组阴道清洁度I、II度比率高于对照组,研究组复发率低于对照组,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论产妇应用乳杆菌活菌胶囊配合治疗滴虫性阴道炎可提高治愈率,改善阴道微环境并降低复发率。     

加味甘麦大枣汤对气血两虚型产后抑郁症患者肠道菌群和血清5-HT的影响

观察加味甘麦大枣汤对气血两虚型产后抑郁症（PPD）患者肠道菌群和血清5-羟色胺（5-HT）水平的影响。

选取2022年10月至2023年8月就诊于甘州区妇幼保健院且符合纳入标准的气血亏虚型产后抑郁症患者60例作为研究对象,按其就诊顺序随机分为观察组、对照组,每组各30例。对照组给予西医常规治疗,观察组在西医常规治疗基础上联合加味甘麦大枣汤治疗,疗程4周。分别于治疗前和治疗后采用中医证候积分和汉密尔顿抑郁量表（HAMD）评价治疗疗效。通过高通量测序法检测两组患者治疗前后粪便中的菌群多样性和各分类学水平分布。采用酶联免疫吸附测定（ELISA）检测两组患者血清5-HT水平。

与本组治疗前比较,治疗后两组患者中医证候积分和HAMD评分均明显下降,差异具有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。治疗后,与对照组比较,观察组的中医证候积分和HAMD评分显著下降（P＜0.05）。观察组临床有效率为96.7%,高于对照组的76.7%（χ²=8.967,P=0.030）。观察组肠道菌群在治疗后的Simpson指数和Shannon指数较治疗前升高（P＜0.05）,拟杆菌门（Bacteroidetes）、瘤胃菌科（Ruminococcaceae）、拟杆菌属（Bacteroides）和双歧杆菌属（Bifidobacterium）相对丰度显著高于对照组（P＜0.05）,变形菌门（Proteobacteria）、肠杆菌科（Enterobacteriaceae）、粪球菌属（Coprococcus）和志贺菌属（Shigella）相对丰度显著低于对照组（P＜0.05）。两组患者血清5-HT水平治疗后均明显升高（P＜0.05）,观察组5-HT水平升高的更明显（P=0.010）。

加味甘麦大枣汤可辅助临床治疗改善PPD患者的临床症状,调节患者肠道菌群,提高血清5-HT水平。

     

Enhanced levels of immunoreactive β-casomorphin-8 in milk of breastfeeding women with mastitis

An incorrect, superficial suckling technique in breastfeeding frequently leads to milk congestion and sometimes mastitis. In the present study we have examined whether milk congestion may affect levels of the atypical opioid β-casomorphin-8 in milk and in plasma. We also investigated whether the rate of acute psychosis during the first half year after parturition has declined in Sweden over the years. Milk and plasma samples were collected for peptide analysis from 14 women with mastitis and 10 controls. We found that in a group of 14 late cases of mastitis (median 48 days post partum) the detected mean level of β-casomorphin-8 in milk was significantly higher and somewhat higher in plasma at the acute stage compared with 2–3 weeks later, after recovery when the symptoms had disappeared, as well as compared to the control subjects. Swedish official statistics show that the incidence of acute psychosis in the first month and in the first half year after birth has declined by a half during the last 30 years. A relationship between postpartum psychosis and elevated β-casomorphin-8 levels in CSF has been suggested from earlier studies. In this study, milk congestion led to enhanced levels of β-casomorphin-8 in milk, which may be related to postpartum psychosis and probably also to ‘the postnatal blues’.     

Influence of day of postpartum breeding on pregnancy rate, pregnancy loss rate, and foaling rate in Thoroughbred mares

Records (years 2005-2007) were analyzed from a Thoroughbred stud farm in central Kentucky. Data from all breeding cycles of foaling mares were tabulated (3184 cycles of 2003 foaling mares bred between 7 and 163 days postpartum). A multiple logistic regression model employing Bayesian statistics was used to adjust for factors that significantly affected outcome; odds ratios (ORs) for pregnancy rate, pregnancy loss rate, and foaling rate were determined to examine the influence of day of postpartum breeding on these parameters. Mares bred before Day 22 (Day 0 = day of foaling) postpartum had a decreased OR for becoming pregnant (P < 0.05); the median OR for becoming pregnant (1.00) was not reached until Day 46 postpartum. Mares bred before Day 13 postpartum had an increased OR for pregnancy loss (P < 0.05). The median OR for pregnancy loss did not decline below 1.00 until Day 78 postpartum. Mares bred before Day 20 postpartum had a decreased OR for producing a foal (P < 0.05). The median OR for producing a foal (1.00) was not reached until Day 75 postpartum. We concluded that fertility (in terms of a higher OR for becoming pregnant and a lower OR for pregnancy loss, resulting in a higher OR for producing a foal) continued to improve in Thoroughbred mares for approximately 2.5 mo postpartum. These findings are of importance to management strategies directed at early postpartum breeding, and explain some of the reported drift in subsequent foaling dates of Thoroughbred mares, despite management practices that employ early postpartum breeding.     

Duration of daily bull exposure on resumption of ovulatory activity in postpartum,primiparous, suckled,beef cows

The objective of this experiment was to determine if duration of daily bull exposure influences length of postpartum anestrus in primiparous, anovular, suckled, beef cows. The null hypotheses were that intervals from calving or the start of bull exposure (D 0) to resumption of ovulatory activity (OA), and proportions of cows that resumed OA during the experiment does not differ among cows exposed to bulls for 0 h, 6 h, or 12 h daily, and that there is no relationship between the duration of bull exposure and interval to resumption of OA in cows exposed to bulls for 0 h, 6 h, or 12 h daily. At 51.5 ± 2.3 d (±SE) after calving, cows were assigned randomly to be exposed for 12 h (BE12; n = 15) or 6 h daily (BE6; n = 14) to bulls, or not exposed to bulls (NE; n = 10) for 45 d. Interval from calving or from D 0 to resumption of OA was shorter (P < 0.05) and the proportion of cows that resumed OA during the experiment was greater (P < 0.05) for BE12 than for NE cows. Interval from D 0 to resumption of OA did not differ (P > 0.10) between BE6 cows and either BE12 or NE cows. However, interval from calving to resumption of OA was shorter (P < 0.05) for BE6 than NE cows. The proportion of cows that resumed OA did not differ (P > 0.10) between BE6 cows and BE12 cows; however, the proportion of cows that resumed OA during the experiment tended (P = 0.08) to be greater for BE6 cows than for NE cows. There was a linear relationship between intervals from calving (b₁ = −7.64 d/h; P < 0.05) and D 0 (b₁ = −3.3 d/h; P < 0.05) to resumption of OA and duration of daily bull exposure. Thus, the duration of bull-pheromone stimuli that cows perceive each day is related to when primiparous, postpartum, anestrous, suckled cows respond to this stimulus and undergo the physiological changes necessary to resume ovulatory activity.     

不同分娩方式对产妇产后心理和生理的影响

目的:探讨不同分娩方式对产妇产后心理和生理的影响.方法:随机选择2011年1月～2011年12月在苏大附一院分娩的初产妇400例,其中剖宫产、阴道自然分娩各200例,对两组产妇产后42天心理状况、恶露持续时间、泌乳情况进行调查.结果:两种分娩方式对产妇产后42天发生焦虑和抑郁心理的影响无明显差别(P＞0.05);阴道自然分娩组产后恶露持续时间短于剖宫产组,差异有显著意义(P＜0.01).有抑郁、焦虑情绪的产妇泌乳始动时间显著长于正常产妇,24h泌乳量显著少于正常产妇(P＜0.01).结论:剖宫产对产妇身体生理创伤大过阴道自然分娩,应严格控制剖宫产的适应症,鼓励阴道自然分娩.