title: Alteration of behavior and monoamine levels attributable to Lactobacillus plantarum PS128 in germ-free mice.
abstract: Probiotics, defined as live bacteria or bacterial products, confer a significant health benefit to the host, including amelioration of anxiety-like behavior and psychiatric illnesses. Here we administered Lactobacillus plantarum PS128 (PS128) to a germ-free (GF) mouse model to investigate the impact of the gut-brain axis on emotional behaviors. First, we demonstrated that chronic administration of live PS128 showed no adverse effects on physical health. Then, we found that administration of live PS128 significantly increased the total distance traveled in the open field test and decreased the time spent in the closed arm in the elevated plus maze test, whereas the administration of PS128 had no significant effects in the depression-like behaviors of GF mice. Also, chronic live PS128 ingestion significantly increased the levels of both serotonin and dopamine in the striatum, but not in the prefrontal cortex or hippocampus. These results suggest that the chronic administration of PS128 is safe and could induce changes in emotional behaviors. The behavioral changes are correlated with the increase in the monoamine neurotransmitters in the striatum. These findings suggest that daily intake of the L. plantarum strain PS128 could improve anxiety-like behaviors and may be helpful in ameliorating neuropsychiatric disorders.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei 11221, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Wei-Hsien
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: National Laboratory Animal Center, National Applied Research Laboratories, Taipei 115, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hsiao-Li
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Chuang
authors.affiliation: National Laboratory Animal Center, National Applied Research Laboratories, Taipei 115, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yen-Te
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei 11221, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chien-Chen
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei 11221, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Geng-Ting
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.affiliation: Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, National Yang-Ming University, 155, Section 2, Linong Street, Taipei 11221, Taiwan. Electronic address: sabrina@ym.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei 11221, Taiwan; Probiotic Research Center, National Yang-Ming University Business Center of Industry-Academia Liaison, Taipei 11221, Taiwan. Electronic address: tsaiyc@ym.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Ying-Chieh
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Tsai
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000097:blood; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000382:microbiology; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D000069196:Gastrointestinal Microbiome / Q000502:physiology*; D005856:Germ-Free Life; D007422:Intestines / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000382:microbiology; D048191:Lactiplantibacillus plantarum; D008099:Liver / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000382:microbiology; D008168:Lung / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D023421:Models, Animal; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D012701:Serotonin; D004298:Dopamine; D003345:Corticosterone
keywords: Anxiety; Dopamine; Germ-free mice; Lactobacillus plantarum; Locomotor; Serotonin