title: Probiotic modulation of the microbiota-gut-brain axis and behaviour in zebrafish.
abstract: The gut microbiota plays a crucial role in the bi-directional gut-brain axis, a communication that integrates the gut and central nervous system (CNS) activities. Animal studies reveal that gut bacteria influence behaviour, Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) levels and serotonin metabolism. In the present study, we report for the first time an analysis of the microbiota-gut-brain axis in zebrafish (Danio rerio). After 28 days of dietary administration with the probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus IMC 501, we found differences in shoaling behaviour, brain expression levels of bdnf and of genes involved in serotonin signalling/metabolism between control and treated zebrafish group. In addition, in microbiota we found a significant increase of Firmicutes and a trending reduction of Proteobacteria. This study demonstrates that selected microbes can be used to modulate endogenous neuroactive molecules in zebrafish.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples Federico II, Napoli, Italy.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Borrelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Napoli, Italy.
authors.forename: Serena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aceto
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Napoli, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Agnisola
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Napoli, Italy.
authors.forename: Sofia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: De Paolo
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples Federico II, Napoli, Italy.
authors.forename: Ludovico
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dipineto
authors.affiliation: APC Microbiome Institute, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: Roman M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Stilling
authors.affiliation: APC Microbiome Institute, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.|Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioural Science, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: Timothy G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Dinan
authors.affiliation: APC Microbiome Institute, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.|Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: John F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Cryan
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples Federico II, Napoli, Italy.
authors.forename: Lucia F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Menna
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples Federico II, Napoli, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fioretti
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D000069196:Gastrointestinal Microbiome / Q000502:physiology; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000378:metabolism; D052201:Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus / Q000378:metabolism*; D019936:Probiotics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D015027:Zebrafish
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D012701:Serotonin