Maternal separation (a model of stress-induced depression) increased the content of Ucn-1 and BDNF in EWcp, but it blunted the Fos response to acute restraint stress; this was accompanied by reduced corticosterone responses in females but not in males [256], suggesting that EWcp might play a role in sex differences observed in stress-induced mood disorders. This evidence concerns the gene BDNF and major depressive disorder.