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Updated: Oct 2, 2025
Probiotic Studies in Neonatal Mice Using Gavage
Published on: January 27, 2019
Early preterm infant microbiome impacts adult learning
1Department of Pediatrics, Pritzker School of Medicine/Biological Sciences Division, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA.
Insights
Early infant microbiome maturation in preterm infants is linked to improved adult memory and learning. This suggests a critical window for interventions to enhance neurodevelopmental outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Microbiome research
- Neurodevelopmental science
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Preterm infants face risks of neurodevelopmental deficits, including impaired memory and learning.
- The gut microbiome influences host behavior, suggesting a potential link to neurodevelopment.
- Early life microbial colonization is crucial for infant development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between early infant microbiome maturation and neurodevelopmental outcomes.
- To determine if colonizing germ-free mice with preterm infant microbiomes influences cognitive functions.
- To explore the role of microbial metabolites and brain-derived neurotrophic factor in this relationship.
Main Methods:
- Germ-free mice were colonized at birth with human preterm infant microbiomes.
- Microbiome composition, diversity, and metabolite profiles were analyzed.
- Neurodevelopmental outcomes, including associative learning, memory, locomotor activity, anxiety, and social interaction, were assessed in adult mice.
- Brain glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor levels were measured.
Main Results:
- Microbiome colonization with preterm infant samples showed increased bacterial diversity and taxa shifts mirroring human preterm microbiome development.
- Microbiome maturation correlated with enhanced associative learning and memory in adult mice.
- No significant effects were observed on locomotor ability, anxiety-like behaviors, or social interaction.
- Glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor increased with microbiome maturation and was associated with improved learning and memory.
Conclusions:
- Maturation of the preterm infant microbiome in early life primes adult associative memory and learning.
- These findings highlight a critical window for early microbiome intervention to improve neurodevelopmental outcomes in preterm infants.
Abstract:
Interventions to mitigate long-term neurodevelopmental deficits such as memory and learning impairment in preterm infants are warranted. Manipulation of the gut microbiome affects host behaviors. In this study we determined whether early maturation of the infant microbiome is associated with neurodevelopment outcomes. Germ free mice colonized at birth with human preterm infant microbiomes from infants of advancing post menstrual age (PMA) demonstrated an increase in bacterial diversity and a shift in dominance of taxa mimicking the human preterm microbiome development pattern. These characteristics along with changes in a number of metabolites as the microbiome matured influenced associative learning and memory but not locomotor ability, anxiety-like behaviors, or social interaction in adult mice. As a regulator of learning and memory, brain glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor increased with advancing PMA and was also associated with better performance in associative learning and memory in adult mice. We conclude that maturation of the microbiome in early life of preterm infants primes adult associative memory and learning ability. Our findings suggest a critical window of early intervention to affect maturation of the preterm infant microbiome and ultimately improve neurodevelopmental outcomes.
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