title: Microbial modulation of behavior and stress responses in zebrafish larvae.
abstract: The influence of the microbiota on behavior and stress responses is poorly understood. Zebrafish larvae have unique characteristics that are advantageous for neuroimmune research, however, they are currently underutilized for such studies. Here, we used germ-free zebrafish to determine the effects of the microbiota on behavior and stress testing. The absence of a microbiota dramatically altered locomotor and anxiety-related behavior. Additionally, characteristic responses to an acute stressor were also obliterated in larvae lacking exposure to microbes. Lastly, treatment with the probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum was sufficient to attenuate anxiety-related behavior in conventionally-raised zebrafish larvae. These results underscore the importance of the microbiota in communicating to the CNS via the microbiome-gut-brain axis and set a foundation for using zebrafish larvae for neuroimmune research.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65201, USA.
authors.forename: Daniel J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65201, USA.
authors.forename: Elizabeth C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Bryda
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65201, USA.
authors.forename: Catherine H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Gillespie
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65201, USA; University of Missouri Metagenomics Center (MUMC), University of Missouri, Columbia, MO65201, USA. Electronic address: ericssona@missouri.edu.
authors.forename: Aaron C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Ericsson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001007:Anxiety / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism; D007814:Larva; D054892:Metagenome; D064307:Microbiota / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D023421:Models, Animal; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology; D009997:Osmotic Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000254:growth & development / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D006854:Hydrocortisone
keywords: Anxiety; Behavior; Germ-free; Gnotobiotic; Gut-brain axis; Microbiome; Microbiota; Stress; Zebrafish