Perinatal depression impairs placental angiogenesis and fetal growth in mice: protective effects of betaine supplementation
Tao Zou
IntroductionPerinatal depression (PND) is the most common psychiatric disorder experienced during pregnancy and postpartum and is characterized by persistent low mood, difficulty adapting to gestational changes, helplessness, social withdrawal, and, in severe cases, suicidal or infanticidal thoughts. In this study, using a mouse model of PND, we examined the impact of PND on placental angioneurotrophic signaling, namely vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), VEGF receptor-1 (VEGFR1), and bra