Valerian treatment during the postpartum period alters breast milk composition and impairs long-term memory in female rat offspring

Maternal anxiety symptoms in the perinatal period might have long-term health effects on both the mother and the developing child. Valerian is a phytotherapeutic agent that is widely used for the treatment of anxiety. This study investigated the effects of valerian treatment in postpartum rats on maternal care, toxicity, and milk composition. Postnatal development, memory, and anxiety behavior in the offspring were also assessed. Postpartum Wistar rats received the valerian (500, 1000, or 2000 mg·kg-1·day-1) by oral gavage. Clinical and biochemical toxicity was evaluated with commercial kits. Maternal behavior was observed daily. Milk composition was analyzed by colorimetric methods. Physical and neuromotor tests were used to analyze postnatal development. Anxiolytic activity was assessed by the elevated plus maze, and memory was evaluated by the step-down inhibitory avoidance task. Maternal toxicity and care behavior were not altered by the treatment, while only the highest dose promoted a significant increase of lactose, and the doses 1000 and 2000 mg·kg-1·day-1 promoted a reduction of protein contents in milk. Postnatal development was similar in all offspring. Adult offspring did not display altered anxiety behavior, while long-term memory was impaired in the female adult offspring by maternal treatment with 1000 mg·kg-1·day-1. These results suggested that high doses of valerian had significant effects on important maternal milk components and can cause long-term alterations of offspring memory; thus, treatment with high doses of valerian is not safe for breastfeeding Wistar rat mothers.

Psicose na maternidade: um olhar psicanalítico a partir do filme "o estranho em mim" / Psychosis in motherhood: a psychoanalytic look from the film "the strange in me / Psicosis en maternidad: una mirada psicoanalítica de la película "das fremde in mir"

No puerpério produz-se uma transformação na mulher, que agora passa a ser também mãe. Esse é um momento de ambivalência, de gozo, mas também de sofrimento, expresso através dos transtornos do puerpério. A pesquisa desenvolvida insere-se na temática da psicopatologia materna e utilizou como palco para a análise a personagem Rebecca, da produção audiovisual "O Estranho em mim" (2008), que retrata a psicose na maternidade. Objetivou-se articular a literatura psicanalítica sobre a psicose, a partir de autores como Freud, Klein e Winnicott, para compreender a condição da personagem, a partir de uma revisão de literatura narrativa sobre o tema. Verificou-se a potência da perspectiva psicanalítica para o entendimento da vivência psicótica da personagem, enfatizando a importância dos cuidados primordiais e das relações primitivas do sujeito. O estudo também apontou a necessidade de pesquisas acerca da psicose na maternidade.

In the postpartum a change takes place in the woman who now also becomes a mother. This is a moment of ambivalence, of joy, but also of suffering, expressed as postpartum disorders. The theme of the research developed is the maternal psychopathology. An analysis of Rebecca, character of the audiovisual production "The stranger in me" (2008), which is facing a psychosis in motherhood, was done. The objective of this study was to articulate the psychoanalytical literature about psychosis, in the light of authors such as Freud, Klein and Winnicott, to understand Rebecca condition, through a narrative literature review about this theme. The adequacy of psychoanalytical perspective to understand Rebecca's psychotic experience in motherhood was verified, emphasizing the importance of primordial care and primitive relationships. The study also pointed the need for further research on the psychosis in motherhood.

En el puerperio hay una transformación en la mujer, que ahora también se convierte en madre. Este es un momento de ambivalencia, de alegría, pero también de sufrimiento, expresado a través de los trastornos del puerperio. La investigación desarrollada sobre el tema de la psicopatología materna se ha utilizado como escenario para el análisis del personaje Rebecca, de la producción audiovisual "Das Fremde in mir"(2008), que retrata la psicosis en la maternidad. El objetivo era articular la literatura psicoanalítica sobre psicosis, de autores como Freud, Klein y Winnicott, para comprender la condición del personaje, a partir de una revisión de la literatura narrativa sobre ese tema. La utilidad de la perspectiva psicoanalítica se quedó evidente para la comprensión de la experiencia psicótica del personaje, enfatizando la importancia del cuidado primordial y de las relaciones primitivas del sujeto. El estudio también señaló la necesidad de investigación sobre la psicosis materna.