Gut microbiota and brain alterations in a translational anorexia nervosa rat model

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is an eating disorder that leads to brain volume reduction and is difficult to treat since the underlying pathophysiology is poorly understood. The human gut microbiota is known to be involved in host metabolism, appetite- and bodyweight regulation, gut permeability, inflammation and gut-brain interactions. In this study, we used a translational activity-based anorexia (ABA) rat model including groups with food restriction, running-wheel access and a combination to disentangle the influences on the gut microbiota and associated changes in brain volume parameters. Our data demonstrated that chronic food restriction but not running-wheel activity had a major influence on the gut microbiota diversity and composition and reduced brain volume. Negative correlations were found between global brain weight and α-diversity, and astrocyte markers and relative abundances of the genera Odoribacter and Bifidobacterium. In contrast, the presence of lactobacilli was positively associated with white and grey brain matter volume. ABA and food-restricted rats are an interesting pre-clinical model to assess the causal influence of starvation on the gut microbiome and gut-brain interactions and can help to dissect the underlying pathophysiologic mechanisms relevant to AN.