title: Sulfate-reducing bacteria impairs working memory in mice.
abstract: The ability of gut microbes to bi-directionally communicate with the brain and vice versa form the basis of the gut microbiome-central nervous system axis. It has been shown that inoculation with pathogenic gut bacteria alters the behavior of mice; however, it is not known whether or not non-pathogenic resident microbes have similar effects. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that the administration of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB), a specific group of resident gut bacteria that generate hydrogen sulfide (H2S), impair learning and memory performance in mice tested in an 8-arm radial maze and Morris water maze. We found that mice spent more time in the center of the maze when they were gavaged with live SRB as compared to mice given saline (control), lactulose+mannitol (L/M), or killed SRB. SRB-gavaged mice were also tested using the Morris water maze and were found to take longer to complete the test, spend more time further from the platform, and have a longer path length to reach the platform. This effect of SRB on maze performance was associated with a higher concentration of H2S in the small intestine and cecum. We conclude that SRB, a specific resident gut bacterial species, could impair cognitive function in mice.
authors: Section of Gastroenterology, New Mexico VA Health Care System, Albuquerque, NM, USA; Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA.
authors: Nathaniel L
authors: NL
authors: Ritz
authors: Section of Gastroenterology, New Mexico VA Health Care System, Albuquerque, NM, USA.
authors: Benjamin J
authors: BJ
authors: Burnett
authors: Section of Gastroenterology, New Mexico VA Health Care System, Albuquerque, NM, USA.
authors: Prashanth
authors: P
authors: Setty
authors: Section of Gastroenterology, New Mexico VA Health Care System, Albuquerque, NM, USA.
authors: Katelyn M
authors: KM
authors: Reinhart
authors: Section of Gastroenterology, New Mexico VA Health Care System, Albuquerque, NM, USA.
authors: Melissa R
authors: MR
authors: Wilson
authors: Department of Emergency Medicine, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA.
authors: Joe
authors: J
authors: Alcock
authors: Section of Gastroenterology, New Mexico VA Health Care System, Albuquerque, NM, USA; Department of Medicine, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA.
authors: Sudha B
authors: SB
authors: Singh
authors: Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA.
authors: Larry L
authors: LL
authors: Barton
authors: Section of Gastroenterology, New Mexico VA Health Care System, Albuquerque, NM, USA; Department of Medicine, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA. Electronic address: helin@salud.unm.edu.
authors: Henry C
authors: HC
authors: Lin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001474:Bartonella Infections / Q000150:complications*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D064426:Gasotransmitters / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D064426:Gasotransmitters; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide
keywords: Hydrogen sulfide; Learning; Memory; Microbiome; Sulfate-reducing bacteria