title: Sex-related effects of nutritional supplementation of Escherichia coli: relevance to eating disorders.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The biological background of sex-related differences in the development of eating disorders (EDs) is unknown. Recent data showed that gut bacteria Escherichia coli induce autoantibodies against anorexigenic α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) associated with psychopathology in ED. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of E. coli on feeding and autoantibodies against α-MSH and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), between female and male rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Commensal E. coli K12 were given in a culture medium daily to adult Wistar rats by intragastric gavage over a 3-wk period; control rats received culture medium only.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Before gavage, E. coli K12 DNA was detected in feces of female but not male rats. E. coli provision was accompanied by an increase in body weight gain in females, but a decrease in body weight gain and food intake in males. Independent of E. coli treatment, plasma levels of anti-α-MSH and ACTH immunoglobulin (Ig)G were higher in female than male rats. Females responded to E. coli by increasing α-MSH IgG levels and affinity, but males by increasing α-MSH IgM levels. Affinity of IgG for ACTH was increased in both E. coli-treated females and males, although with different kinetics. IgG from females stimulated more efficiently α-MSH-induced cyclic adenosine monophosphate production by melanocortin 4 receptor-expressing cells compared with IgG from males.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sex-related response to how E. coli affects feeding and anti-melanocortin hormone antibody production may depend on the presence of these bacteria in the gut before E. coli supplementation. These data suggest that sex-related presence of certain gut bacteria may represent a risk factor for ED development.
authors.affiliation: Inserm UMR1073, Nutrition, Gut and Brain Laboratory, Rouen, France; Institute for Research and Innovation in Biomedicine (IRIB), Rouen University, Normandy University, Rouen, France.
authors.forename: Naouel
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tennoune
authors.affiliation: Inserm UMR1073, Nutrition, Gut and Brain Laboratory, Rouen, France; Institute for Research and Innovation in Biomedicine (IRIB), Rouen University, Normandy University, Rouen, France.
authors.forename: Romain
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Legrand
authors.affiliation: Inserm UMR1073, Nutrition, Gut and Brain Laboratory, Rouen, France; Institute for Research and Innovation in Biomedicine (IRIB), Rouen University, Normandy University, Rouen, France.
authors.forename: Wassila
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ouelaa
authors.affiliation: Inserm UMR1073, Nutrition, Gut and Brain Laboratory, Rouen, France; Institute for Research and Innovation in Biomedicine (IRIB), Rouen University, Normandy University, Rouen, France.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Breton
authors.affiliation: Inserm UMR1073, Nutrition, Gut and Brain Laboratory, Rouen, France; Institute for Research and Innovation in Biomedicine (IRIB), Rouen University, Normandy University, Rouen, France.
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lucas
authors.affiliation: Inserm UMR1073, Nutrition, Gut and Brain Laboratory, Rouen, France; Institute for Research and Innovation in Biomedicine (IRIB), Rouen University, Normandy University, Rouen, France.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bole-Feysot
authors.affiliation: Institute for Research and Innovation in Biomedicine (IRIB), Rouen University, Normandy University, Rouen, France; Animal behavior platform (SCAC), Rouen, France.
authors.forename: Jean-Claude
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: do Rego
authors.affiliation: Inserm UMR1073, Nutrition, Gut and Brain Laboratory, Rouen, France; Institute for Research and Innovation in Biomedicine (IRIB), Rouen University, Normandy University, Rouen, France; Rouen University Hospital, CHU Charles Nicolle, Rouen, France.
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Déchelotte
authors.affiliation: Inserm UMR1073, Nutrition, Gut and Brain Laboratory, Rouen, France; Institute for Research and Innovation in Biomedicine (IRIB), Rouen University, Normandy University, Rouen, France. Electronic address: Serguei.Fetissov@univ-rouen.fr.
authors.forename: Sergueï O
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Fetissov
mesh_terms: D000249:Adenosine Monophosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D003106:Colon / Q000382:microbiology*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004435:Eating / Q000276:immunology*; D004926:Escherichia coli; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D000069196:Gastrointestinal Microbiome / Q000276:immunology*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D053486:Melanocortins / Q000276:immunology*; D019936:Probiotics; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D044105:Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 4 / Q000378:metabolism; D012737:Sex Factors; D015430:Weight Gain; D000521:alpha-MSH / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D053486:Melanocortins; D044105:Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 4; D000249:Adenosine Monophosphate; D000521:alpha-MSH; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone
keywords: Animal models; Anorexia nervosa; Anxiety; Body weight; Bulimia; Eating disorders; Feeding; Microbiota; Neuropeptides