Neuronal stress-coping mechanisms in postpartum females.

Abstract

Animals exhibit a wide range of stress responses aimed at restoring homeostasis and promoting adaptation. In response to stress, they employ coping mechanisms to maintain physiological balance. Dysregulated stress-coping strategies have been associated with mental disorders, including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Understanding the neuronal mechanisms that regulate stress-coping is critical for elucidating normal physiological responses and addressing the pathological processes underlying these disorders. Stress responses are influenced by sex and life stage, with notable variability in the prevalence and severity of mental disorders based on these factors. Stress-coping mechanisms are pivotal in determining the vulnerability or resilience of an individual to stress. Thus, identifying differences in stress-coping strategies between sexes and across life stages is essential for advancing prevention and treatment strategies for stress-related mental disorders. This review explores the neuronal mechanisms underlying stress responses, emphasizing the distinct stress-coping strategies utilized by postpartum females. Highlighting these differences underscores the need for targeted prevention and treatment approaches that consider sex- and life stage-specific variations in stress-coping mechanisms.