Microbiota modulate sympathetic neurons via a gut-brain circuit

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Microbiology
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• The gut-brain axis integrates intestinal signals with central nervous system functions.
• Gut microorganisms and their metabolites influence host physiology and behavior.
• Understanding microbial modulation of neural circuits is crucial for gut-brain communication.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how the gut microbiota influences enteric-associated neurons.
• To identify specific neural circuits involved in microbiota-mediated gut regulation.
• To elucidate the role of the gut microbiome in controlling sympathetic nervous system activity.

Main Methods:

• Gnotobiotic mouse models
• Transcriptomics and circuit-tracing techniques
• Chemogenetic manipulations and functional assays

Main Results:

• Gut microbiome composition modulates the expression of cFos in sympathetic neurons.
• Short-chain fatty acid-producing bacteria suppress cFos expression.
• Vagal neurons and brainstem circuits are identified as key components of this microbiota-gut-brain communication pathway.

Conclusions:

• The gut microbiome exerts control over gut-extrinsic sympathetic activation.
• A specific gut-brain circuit involving vagal and sympathetic neurons mediates microbial influence on gut function.
• These findings highlight the intricate relationship between gut microbiota and the nervous system.