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Anxiety-like Behavior in Female Sprague Dawley Rats Associated with Cecal Clostridiales
Tracey Bear1,2,3, Nicole Roy2,4,5, Julie Dalziel6
1The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited, Palmerston North 4410, New Zealand.
Microorganisms
|July 29, 2023
Summary
Female rats exposed to chronic stress showed atypical behaviors but no depression. Gut microbiota, particularly Clostridiales and Desulfovibrionaceae, correlated with anxiety and inflammation, suggesting a brain-gut axis influence.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Microbiology
- Immunology
Background:
- The interplay between chronic stress, gut microbiota, and mental health remains unclear.
- Understanding stress resilience in female rodents is crucial for translational research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS) on female rat behavior and physiology.
- To explore the relationship between gut microbiota composition, inflammation, and anxiety-like behaviors.
Main Methods:
- Female Sprague Dawley rats underwent UCMS, followed by behavioral tests (sucrose preference, Porsolt swim, light-dark box).
- Fecal and plasma samples were analyzed for corticosterone, microbiota composition, organic acids, gut permeability markers (LBP), and cytokines.
Main Results:
- UCMS induced atypical behaviors and elevated specific cytokines (GM-CSF, CINC-1) but not depressive-like behaviors or altered gut permeability.
- Female rats exhibited a resilient phenotype despite UCMS exposure.
- Specific microbial taxa (Clostridiales, Desulfovibrionaceae) correlated with anxiety behaviors and cytokine levels, independent of UCMS.
Conclusions:
- Female rats display resilience to UCMS, with distinct physiological and behavioral responses.
- Gut microbiota composition, particularly Clostridiales and Desulfovibrionaceae, is linked to anxiety-like behaviors and inflammatory markers.
- Findings support a brain-to-gut axis influencing anxiety through microbiota and inflammatory pathways.
