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Antibiotic Abuse Induced Histopathological and Neurobehavioral Disorders in Mice
Ahmed Mohamed Nabil Helaly1,2, Yomna Ahmed El-Attar2, Mahmoud Khalil2
1Faculty of Medicine, Yarmouk University, Irbid, Jordan.
Introduction:
Antibiotic abuse is a common phenomenon in Egypt as medications are prescribed without supervision. It is suggested that the excess use of antibiotics modifies the gut microbiota and plays a role in the development of neurological and psychiatric disorders.
Objective:
The aim of the present study was to use bulb-c mice as models for curam (amoxicillin /clavulanic acid) abuse compared to the locally acting neomycin model, then restoring the probiotic balance to look at the possible effects on the animal brains.
Methods:
The results showed early excitable brains demonstrated by S100b immunohistochemistry in both cortexes and hippocampuses of neomycin-treated mice. Staining with PAS stain showed no suggested neurodegenerative changes. Treatment with probiotics improved the S100b immunohistochemistry profile of the curam group partially but failed to overcome the neuroinflammatory reaction detected by hematoxylin and eosin stain. Curam was possibly blamed for the systemic effects.
Results:
The neurobehavioral tests showed delayed impairment in the open field test for the curam group and impaired new object recognition for the neomycin group. These tests were applied by video recording. The neurobehavioral decline developed 14 days after the end of the 3-week antibiotic course. Unfortunately, curam abuse induced animal fatalities.
Conclusion:
Antibiotic abuse has a neurotoxic effect that works by both local and more prominent systemic mechanisms. It can be said that antibiotic abuse is a cofactor behind the rise of neuropsychiatric diseases in Egypt.
Insights
Antibiotic abuse in Egypt leads to neurotoxic effects, impacting gut microbiota and potentially contributing to neuropsychiatric disorders. Further research is needed to understand these complex mechanisms.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Microbiology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Antibiotic abuse is prevalent in Egypt due to unsupervised prescription practices.
- Excessive antibiotic use is linked to gut microbiota alterations and potential neurological/psychiatric disorders.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the neurotoxic effects of antibiotic abuse using mouse models.
- To compare the impact of amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (curam) and neomycin on brain function.
- To assess the efficacy of probiotic restoration in mitigating antibiotic-induced neuroinflammation.
Main Methods:
- Utilized bulb-c mice for curam and neomycin abuse models.
- Assessed neurotoxicity via S100b immunohistochemistry, PAS staining, and hematoxylin and eosin staining.
- Conducted neurobehavioral tests including open field and new object recognition tests.
Main Results:
- Neomycin-treated mice exhibited early brain excitability (S100b) and impaired object recognition.
- Curam-treated mice showed delayed neurobehavioral impairment and partial improvement with probiotics.
- Antibiotic abuse induced fatalities in the curam group, suggesting systemic effects.
Conclusions:
- Antibiotic abuse exerts neurotoxic effects through local and systemic mechanisms.
- Antibiotic abuse may be a contributing factor to the rising incidence of neuropsychiatric diseases in Egypt.
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