Background & Objective: Postpartum depression appears to be a harmful condition affecting mothers and their babies negatively. Regarding their side effects, the tendency to use antidepressants has especially fallen in nursing mothers. Considering the effect of zinc on mood, this study was conducted to determine the efficacy of zinc oxide nanoparticles on postpartum depression in female mice.
Material & Methods: In this experimental study, the adult female mice of NMARI breed (25-30gr) were divided into six groups respectively (n=8): 1) Control 2) Depressed group 3, 4, 5) Depressed groups treated with a dose of zinc oxide nanoparticles including (5, 10 and 20 mg/kg) 6) Depressed groups treated for 8 days with a dose of 5 mg/kg zinc oxide nanoparticles.
First, the studied animals were depressed by intraperitoneal injection of 5mg/kg progesterone for 5 days. The control group received no drug or solvent. The assessment of depression rate on the eighth day after the start of administration of progesterone was conducted by forced swim test.
Results: The zinc oxide nanoparticles at doses 10 mg/kg (P< 0.01) and 20 mg/kg (P< 0.05) and also at 5 mg/kg dose for 8 days (P< 0.01) led to a significant decrease in immobilization time in depressed mice.
Conclusion: Administration of progesterone induces depression, and thus, increases the period of immobilization of mice. The zinc oxide nanoparticles reduced the symptom of postpartum depression in forced swim test. The findings can be used to show the effects of zinc oxide nanoparticles in the reduction of postpartum depression.