Open AccessCan psychobiotics administration influence behavioral responses and physiological stress in healthy rats?
Author(s) -
Mohammad Morshedi,
Khadijeh Bavafa Valenlia,
Maryam SaghafiAsl,
Saeid Hadi,
Vahid Hadi,
Seyed Mehdi Mirghazanfari,
Gholamreza Askari
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
̒ulūm-i dārūyī
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.238
H-Index - 17
ISSN - 1735-403X
DOI - 10.34172/ps.2021.63
Subject(s) - synbiotics , oxidative stress , malondialdehyde , elevated plus maze , glutathione peroxidase , lactobacillus plantarum , medicine , superoxide dismutase , hippocampus , endocrinology , anxiety , biology , psychiatry , probiotic , lactic acid , genetics , bacteria
Background: There is a well-documented cross-talk between the gut and brain. Evidence is accumulating to suggest beneficial effects of psychobiotics [prebiotics, probiotics or synbiotics] on psychological distress in disease states. However, their role in healthy status remains relatively unclear. Objectives: The present study was aimed to clarify if psychobiotics could influence behavioral responses and physiological stress in healthy rats. Methods: In the present experiment, 28 male Wistar rats were divided into four groups (healthy rats treated by Lactobacillus plantarum (L.plantarum), inulin and their combination (synbiotic) and control group). Then, psychobiotics were administered to the intervention groups for 8 weeks. Behavioral tests (Morris water maze, Elevated plus maze, and Forced swimming test) were performed at the endpoint. Then, serum and brain levels of superoxide dismutase, malondialdehyde, glutathione peroxidase, total antioxidant capacity, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and serotonin were measured. Results: Our finding indicated that unlike inulin, the administration of L.plantarum and synbiotic could ameliorate depression and anxiety-like behavior and cognitive performance (P<0.05). Serum and brain oxidative stress markers were significantly improved by synbiotic consumption. Intake of L.plantarum led to decreased oxidative stress in the hippocampus and amygdala (P<0.05). Moreover, a significant increase in hippocampal serotonin and BDNF concentration was observed after synbiotic and L.plantarum intake (P<0.05). In addition, there was a strong correlation of serum and brain markers with behavioral performance (P< 0.05). Conclusion: Our study suggests that psychobiotics therapy may have favorable effects on the amelioration of psychological disorders.