Abstract
Ethanol is a widely consumed drug, which acts on the central nervous system to induce behavioral alterations ranging from disinhibition to sedation. Recent studies have produced accumulating evidence for the therapeutic role of probiotic bacteria in behavior. We aimed to investigate the effect of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) on the behavior of adult zebrafish chronically exposed to ethanol. Adult wild-type zebrafish were randomly divided into four groups, each containing 15 fish. The following groups were formed: Control (C), received unsupplemented feed during the trial period; Probiotic (P), fed with feed supplemented with LGG; Ethanol (E), received unsupplemented feed and 0.5% of ethanol directly added to the tank water; and Probiotic+Ethanol (P+E), group under ethanol exposure (0.5%) and fed with LGG supplemented feed. After 2 weeks of exposure, the novel tank test was used to evaluate fish behavior, which was analyzed using computer-aided video tracking. LGG alone did not alter swimming behavior of the fish. Ethanol exposure led to robust behavioral effects in the form of reduced anxiety levels, as indicated by increased vertical exploration and more time spent in the upper region of the novel tank. The group exposed to ethanol and treated with LGG behaved similarly to animals exposed to ethanol alone. Taken together, these results show that zebrafish behavior was not altered by LGG per se, as seen in murine models. This was the first study to investigate the effects of a probiotic diet on behavior after a chronic ethanol exposure.
Highlights
Alcohol dependence is a chronic and progressive disorder, which affects thousands of people around the world and may cause several physical, mental, and social impairments.[1,2] Neurochemical alterations caused by ethanol in specific brain regions may have effects on several neurotransmitter/neuropeptide systems, leading to behavioral alterations, which range from disinhibition to sedation and hypnosis, depending on the amount of ethanol consumed.[3]Studies reported that intestinal microorganisms may have significant effects on the central nervous system (CNS) and on behavior.[4,5] Chronic alcohol consumption has been known to cause dysbiosis.[6]
Much of our knowledge regarding the bidirectional communication between the nervous system and intestinal microorganisms has been produced by studies of pathogenic organisms
The exploratory behavior observed in animals exposed to ethanol was distinct from that recorded in the control and probiotic groups
Summary
Alcohol dependence is a chronic and progressive disorder, which affects thousands of people around the world and may cause several physical, mental, and social impairments.[1,2] Neurochemical alterations caused by ethanol in specific brain regions may have effects on several neurotransmitter/neuropeptide systems, leading to behavioral alterations, which range from disinhibition to sedation and hypnosis, depending on the amount of ethanol consumed.[3]. Studies reported that intestinal microorganisms may have significant effects on the central nervous system (CNS) and on behavior.[4,5] Chronic alcohol consumption has been known to cause dysbiosis.[6] Much of our knowledge regarding the bidirectional communication between the nervous system and intestinal microorganisms has been produced by studies of pathogenic organisms.
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