Cited by 266Gut microbiota and healthGastrointestinal motility and disordersTryptophan and brain disorders

Commensal microbiota modulate murine behaviors in a strictly contamination-free environment confirmed by culture-based methods

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Nishino, R., Mikami, K., Takahashi, H., Tomonaga, S., Furuse, M., Hiramoto, T., Aiba, Y., Koga, Y. +1 more·2013·Neurogastroenterology & Motility

Abstract

BACKGROUND: There is increasing evidence suggesting the existence of an interaction between commensal microbiota, the gut and the brain. The aim of this study was to examine the influence of commensal microbiota on the host behaviors in a contamination-free environment, which was verified by culture-based methods. METHODS: Open-field and marble-burying tests were used to analyze anxiety-like behaviors and locomotor activity in gnotobiotic BALB/c mice with a common genetic background in a sterile isolator. The monoamine levels in several regions of the brain were measured in germfree (GF) mice and commensal fecal microbiota-associated mice (EX-GF). KEY RESULTS: A 24-h exposure to the environment outside the sterile isolators rendered GF mice less anxious than those not contaminated, while there was no change in the locomotion. EX-GF mice, the gnotobiotic mice with normal specific pathogen-free microbiota, were less anxious and active than GF mice using open-field and marble-burying tests. The norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin turnover rates were higher in the EX-GF mice than in the GF mice in most regions of the brain, suggesting that monoaminergic neurotransmission might increase in the EX-GF mice comparing the GF mice. Monoassociation with Brautia coccoides reduced the anxiety level, but it did not affect the locomotor activity. In contrast, colonization with Bifidobacterium infantis decreased the locomotor activity, while having little effect on the anxiety level. CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES: These results strongly support the current view that gut microorganisms modulate brain development and behavior.

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  • Gut colonization by commensal microflora in germ-free mice immediately after birth contributed to an increase in striatal monoaminergic neurotransmission, which resulted in normalization of anxiety-like behavior.

    “Nishino et al. [69] showed that gut colonization by commensal microflora in GF mice immediately after birth contributed to an increase in the striatal monoaminergic neurotransmission, which resulted in normalization of the anxiety-like behavior.”

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Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. Finlay BB. Cell adhesion and inva- sion mechanisms in microbial path- ogenesis. Curr Opin Cell Biol 1990; 2: 815-20.
  2. Mayer EA. Gut feelings: the emerg- ing biology of gut-brain communica- tion. Nat Rev Neurosci 2011; 12: 453 -66.

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Authors
Nishino, R., Mikami, K., Takahashi, H., Tomonaga, S., Furuse, M., Hiramoto, T., Aiba, Y., Koga, Y., & Sudo, N.
Affiliations
  • Tokai University (JP)
  • Laboratory for Infectious Diseases Isehara Kanagawa Japan
  • Kyushu University (JP)
Corresponding author
Nishino, R.
Venue
Neurogastroenterology & Motility
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2013-03-11
Volume
25
Issue
6
Pages
521
ISSN
  • 1350-1925 (ISSN-L)
  • 1365-2982
OpenAlex
W2060139683
Cited by
266
References
42
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 17 · 2023: 26 · 2022: 21 · 2021: 35 · 2020: 23 · 2019: 21 · 2018: 30 · 2017: 26 · 2016: 20 · 2015: 15 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 4
FWCI
7.31
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Neurogastroenterology & Motility (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (24659350, 25293167)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Gut microbiota and health
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Gastroenterology › Gastrointestinal motility and disorders
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Biological Psychiatry › Tryptophan and brain disorders
Keywords
commensal microbiota, gut-brain axis, anxiety-like behavior, locomotor activity, gnotobiotic mice, germ-free mice, sterile environment, monoamine neurotransmission, norepinephrine, dopamine, serotonin, Bifidobacterium infantis, microbial colonization, host behavior
MeSH terms
Animals, Anxiety, Behavior, Animal, Bifidobacterium, Brain, Dopamine, Exploratory Behavior, Feces, Germ-Free Life, Mice, Inbred BALB C, Motor Activity, Norepinephrine, Serotonin, Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms, Gastrointestinal Tract, Mice, Microbiota

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