Psychobiotic interventions attenuate chronic alcohol use-mediated exacerbation of posttraumatic stress disorder in rats: the role of gut-liver axis response.

Abstract

The incidence of co-occurring alcohol-use disorder (AUD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is high, and the presence of one disorder aggravates theseverity of the other. Emerging evidence shows the neuroprotective and anti-inflammation functions of psychobiotics. Hence, the study explored the effects ofprobiotics and synbiotic inulin on the gut- and liver-oxidative and inflammatory biomarkers in chronic alcohol exacerbation of PTSD symptoms in rats. Young adult rats were administered 10% ethanol in a two-bottle choice test for six weeks and weresubjected to single prolonged stress. Probiotics andsynbiotic intervention followed this. Markers of oxido-inflammatory stress, liver functions, intestinal (faecal) metabolites, occludin expression, and histopathology of the ileum and liver were evaluated. Chronic alcohol drinking and PTSD increased oxido-inflammatory stress, markers of hepatic damage, and reduced faecal metabolites, which were attenuated byprobiotic and synbiotic interventions. Furthermore, reduced immunoexpression of gut and liver occludin, withloss of barrier integrity, viable hepatocytes, congestive portal area, and shortened villi and crypt depth, were observed. Probiotic and synbiotic interventions mitigated these effects. The study demonstrates that psychobiotics mitigate the detrimental effects of co-occurring chronic alcohol intake in the context of PTSD.