Secure attachment to caregiver prevents adult depressive symptoms in a sex-dependent manner: A translational study

Although clinically relevant, evidence for a protective effect of early secure attachment against the development of depressive symptoms in adulthood is still inconsistent. This study used a translational approach to overcome this limitation. The analysis of a non-clinical adult population revealed a moderating effect of secure attachment on depressive symptoms in women only. Thus, we tested the causal link between early attachment with caregiver and adult depressive-like phenotypes in a mouse model of early adversities that is especially effective in females. Repeated cross fostering (RCF) in the first postnatal days prevented the development of pups’ secure attachment with the caregiver as tested in a rodent version of the “strange situation”—the standard human test—induced depressive-like behaviors and altered activity of the ventral tegmental area dopamine neurons in adulthood. Finally, a stable alternative caregiver during the RCF experience prevented all these effects, modeling human “earned attachment.” [Display omitted] •Secure attachment prevents vulnerability to depressive symptoms in women•RCF undermines pups' secure attachment and induces depressive-like behavior•RCF alters the activity of the ventral tegmental area dopamine neurons in adulthood•A stable alternative caregiver during RCF prevents these negative outcomes Biological sciences; Neuroscience; Behavioral neuroscience.