To investigate the underlying role of BDNF on postpartum depression in female mice, and given a study reporting that FoxO1 is a underlying functional target gene of Bdnf [37]. We measured FoxO1 mRNA levels in CUS-treated female mice and found that FoxO1 mRNA levels were significantly reduced in the mPFC (Fig. 5a, P < 0.001) but not in the hippocampus (Fig. 5b, P = 0.461). Moreover, FoxO1 protein levels in the mPFC were also decreased in CUS-treated postpartum mice compared to non-treated mice (Fig. 5c, P = 0.001). The correlation analysis revealed that there were significant positive or negative correlations between depression-related behavior and FoxO1 mRNA expression levels (Fig. 5d). At the same time, significant correlations were also observed between sucrose preference, latency or immobility and FoxO1 protein levels in the mPFC (Fig. 5e).
