Abstract
BackgroundCerebral palsy (CP) is a kind of disability that influences motion, and children with CP also exhibit depression-like behaviour. Inflammation has been recognized as a contributor to CP and depression, and some studies suggest that the gut-brain axis may be a contributing factor. Our team observed that Saccharomyces boulardii (S. boulardii) could reduce the inflammatory level of rats with hyperbilirubinemia and improve abnormal behaviour. Both CP and depression are related to inflammation, and probiotics can improve depression by reducing inflammation. Therefore, we hypothesize that S. boulardii may improve the behaviour and emotions of spastic CP rats through the gut-brain axis pathway.MethodsOur new rat model was produced by resecting the cortex and subcortical white matter. Seventeen-day-old CP rats were exposed to S. boulardii or vehicle control by gastric gavage for 9 days, and different behavioural domains and general conditions were tested. Inflammation was assessed by measuring the inflammatory markers IL-6 and TNF-α. Hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis activity was assessed by measuring adrenocorticotropic hormone and corticosterone in the serum. Changes in the gut microbiome were detected by 16S rRNA.ResultsThe hemiplegic spastic CP rats we made with typical spastic paralysis exhibited depression-like behaviour. S. boulardii treatment of hemiplegic spastic CP rats improves behaviour and general conditions and significantly reduces the level of inflammation, decreases HPA axis activity, and increases gut microbiota diversity.ConclusionsThe model developed in this study mimics a hemiplegic spastic cerebral palsy. Damage to the cortex and subcortical white matter of 17-day-old Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats led to spastic CP-like behaviour, and the rats exhibited symptoms of depression-like behaviour. Our results indicate that S. boulardii might have potential in treating hemiplegic spastic CP rat models or as an add-on therapy via the gut-brain axis pathway.
Highlights
Cerebral palsy (CP) is a kind of disorder that influences motion and, in more severe forms, the disability of the patient to sit and stand independently [1]
Our team observed that S. boulardii could reduce the inflammatory level of rats with hyperbilirubinemia, improve abnormal behaviour, and we propose the prospect of probiotics in the treatment of hyperbilirubinemia
Our study showed that the increase of gut microbiota diversity and species richness in the CP + Sb groups compared with CP groups; the levels of inflammatory, and Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and CORT in the CP + Sb groups were significantly lower than in CP groups(p < 0.01), indicating that S. boulardii can reduce the inflammation in CP rats and downregulate a hyperactive HPA axis, and improve the composition of gut microbiota, the results were which were consistent with our previous hypothesis
Summary
Cerebral palsy (CP) is a kind of disorder that influences motion and, in more severe forms, the disability of the patient to sit and stand independently [1]. Pain, and depressive symptoms are common in adults with CP [8,9,10]. Depression-like behaviour in children and adults with CP is much more common than previously thought and is either not recognized or poorly managed by clinicians [11]. Cerebral palsy (CP) is a kind of disability that influences motion, and children with CP exhibit depression-like behaviour. Our team observed that Saccharomyces boulardii (S. boulardii) could reduce the inflammatory level of rats with hyperbilirubinemia and improve abnormal behaviour. Both CP and depression are related to inflammation, and probiotics can improve depression by reducing inflammation. We hypothesize that S. boulardii may improve the behaviour and emotions of spastic CP rats through the gut-brain axis pathway
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