Maternal low-intensity exercise and probiotic ingestion during pregnancy improve physical ability and brain function in offspring mice

Abstract

The pregnant mice were provided with 200 mL of probiotic solution and exercised on the treadmill five times (30 mins) per week for 2 weeks. After delivery, we evaluated motor function of the offspring at 30 and 59 postnatal days using a rotarod performance test and measured cytokines and neurotransmitters (GABA and glutamate) in the brain of offspring. The offspring in the EXR+PRO group showed the best motor function. The cytokine level of the offspring's brain in the EXR+PRO group was also decreased. The excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitter of the offspring’s brain was altered. These results suggest that low-intensity exercise combined with probiotic ingestion during pregnancy has a positive effect on improving motor function and immune systems in the brain of offspring. • The offspring mice from mother exercised with the probiotics showed outstanding motor function in rotarod test. • Brain inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α) were also decreased in offspring mice exercised with probiotics. • Significantly increased glutamate in all treatment male group may contribute to improve motor function. • Maternal exercise with probiotics has a positive effect on motor function and the brain immune system of offspring mice. Appropriate exercise during pregnancy is known to benefit the fetus. Recently, providing probiotics during pregnancy has been shown to affect offspring positively. However, the effectiveness of exercise coupled with taking probiotics and the effects on the brain and immunity as well as the physical fitness of the offspring remains unclear. In this study, we investigate the effect of low-intensity exercise and probiotic ingestion during pregnancy on offspring mice. C57BL/6J pregnant mice were subjected to probiotic intake ( L. plantarum and B. longum ) and/or aerobic exercise intervention for 2 weeks. We observed that offspring mice from mothers who had exercised and ingested probiotics could run for the longest time in a rotarod test, and they had the lowest levels of brain cytokines, including IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α. These results suggest that low-intensity exercise during pregnancy improves offspring mice's motor function and decrease inflammatory cytokine in the brain when combined with probiotic ingestion.