Rats exposed to maternal depression and antidepressant treatment during development show sex differences in social behavior

Major depression occurs in about 7 percent of pregnant women, making antidepressant treatment often necessary. Depressive symptoms during pregnancy can negatively influence the developing child, while antidepressants affect the behavioral development and health of the child as well [1]. For example, taking selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) during pregnancy increases the risk of having a child that will develop a social disorder such as autism spectrum disorder [ASD; 2]. In humans, it is difficult to dissociate the effects of the depression itself from the effects of the antidepressant, making it unclear whether the exposed fetus is at increased risk. Therefore, we investigated the effects of maternal depression, antidepressant treatment, and their combination during pregnancy on social behavior in rat offspring.