Abstract
The literature suggests a bi-directional association between metabolic disorders (e.g. diabetes mellitus type II and metabolic syndrome) and depressive disorder. The gut microbiota may play an important role in metabolic disorders and has been shown to affect behavior in animals as well, and diet is known to alter the gut microbiota composition. The immune system is believed to play a major role in this interplay. 40 male Sprague–Dawley rats were fed a high-fat or control diet for 10 weeks. Additionally, a probiotic mix (8 lactobacillus/bifidobacteria species) or placebo were administered daily during the last 5 weeks (n = 10). The animals were subjected to behavioral tests (Barnes Maze, Novel Object Recognition, Open Field, Forced Swim Test) as well as an oral glucose tolerance test. Cytokine production from anti-CD3/28 stimulated blood lymphocytes was measured, and a dexamethasone cytokine production suppression test was performed on these cells as well. Probiotic treatment was associated with a significant and complex pattern of behavioral changes, but it did not affect body weight or caloric intake. However, animals on high-fat diet gained significantly more weight and suffered from impaired glucose tolerance. Final analyses are still ongoing. Potentially, this interdisciplinary project could contribute to an understanding of the extensive significance of the newly discovered, intriguing world of the intestinal microbiota, including the “gut-brain-axis”.
Published Version
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