**5. Conclusions**

This study demonstrated that VD3-induced antianhedonic- and antidepressantlike effects in the adult female rats following long-lasting estrogens decline treated with low dose of 17β-E2 submitted to CUMS. Treatment with VD3 modulates NF-kB/p65 concentration/protein expression and 17β-E2/VD3 receptors levels in the hippocampus of long-term OVX rats exposed to CUMS treated with low dose of 17β-E2. Our study yields new knowledge into the mechanisms by which VD3 affects to alleviate anhedonia- and depressive-like behaviors in female rodents with longterm estrogen deficiency in stress model of depression.
