Abstract
BackgroundThe impact of the gut microbiota on host physiology and behavior has been relatively well established. Whether changes in microbial composition affect brain structure and function is largely elusive, however. This is important as altered brain structure and function have been implicated in various neurodevelopmental disorders, like attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). We hypothesized that gut microbiota of persons with and without ADHD, when transplanted into mice, would differentially modify brain function and/or structure. We investigated this by colonizing young, male, germ-free C57BL/6JOlaHsd mice with microbiota from individuals with and without ADHD. We generated and analyzed microbiome data, assessed brain structure and function by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and studied mouse behavior in a behavioral test battery.ResultsPrincipal coordinate analysis showed a clear separation of fecal microbiota of mice colonized with ADHD and control microbiota. With diffusion tensor imaging, we observed a decreased structural integrity of both white and gray matter regions (i.e., internal capsule, hippocampus) in mice that were colonized with ADHD microbiota. We also found significant correlations between white matter integrity and the differentially expressed microbiota. Mice colonized with ADHD microbiota additionally showed decreased resting-state functional MRI-based connectivity between right motor and right visual cortices. These regions, as well as the hippocampus and internal capsule, have previously been reported to be altered in several neurodevelopmental disorders. Furthermore, we also show that mice colonized with ADHD microbiota were more anxious in the open-field test.ConclusionsTaken together, we demonstrate that altered microbial composition could be a driver of altered brain structure and function and concomitant changes in the animals’ behavior. These findings may help to understand the mechanisms through which the gut microbiota contributes to the pathobiology of neurodevelopmental disorders.7eJBsCA8tMGaQzNiv1LdPBVideo abstract.
Highlights
The impact of the gut microbiota on host physiology and behavior has been relatively well established
We aimed to investigate the impact of human microbiota from individuals with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) on brain function and/or structure and behavior in mice
Linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) analysis showed that 31 genera differed in relative abundance between the two experimental groups
Summary
The impact of the gut microbiota on host physiology and behavior has been relatively well established. Whether changes in microbial composition affect brain structure and function is largely elusive, . We hypothesized that gut microbiota of persons with and without ADHD, when transplanted into mice, would differentially modify brain function and/or structure. We investigated this by colonizing young, male, germ-free C57BL/6JOlaHsd mice with microbiota from individuals with and without ADHD. An increasing body of literature recognizes the influence of the microbiota on neurodevelopment and brain function as well [6, 7]. Early life disturbances of the microbiota can influence neurodevelopment, possibly resulting in psychiatric disorders later in life [20]
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