Cited by 99Probiotics and Fermented FoodsGastrointestinal motility and disordersGut microbiota and health

Effect of Maternal Probiotic Intervention on HPA Axis, Immunity and Gut Microbiota in a Rat Model of Irritable Bowel Syndrome

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Barouei, Javad, Moussavi, Mahta, Hodgson, Deborah M.·2012·PLoS ONE

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether maternal probiotic intervention influences the alterations in the brain-immune-gut axis induced by neonatal maternal separation (MS) and/or restraint stress in adulthood (AS) in Wistar rats. DESIGN: Dams had free access to drinking water supplemented with Bifidobacterium animalis subsp lactis BB-12® (3 × 10(9) CFU/mL) and Propionibacterium jensenii 702 (8.0 × 10(8) CFU/mL) from 10 days before conception until postnatal day (PND) 22 (weaning day), or to control ad lib water. Offspring were subjected to MS from PND 2 to 14 or left undisturbed. From PND 83 to 85, animals underwent 30 min/day AS, or were left undisturbed as controls. On PND 24 and 86, blood samples were collected for corticosterone, ACTH and IgA measurement. Colonic contents were analysed for the composition of microflora and luminal IgA levels. RESULTS: Exposure to MS significantly increased ACTH levels and neonatal fecal counts of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, E. coli, enterococci and clostridia, but reduced plasma IgA levels compared with non-MS animals. Animals exposed to AS exhibited significantly increased ACTH and corticosterone levels, decreased aerobic bacteria and bifidobacteria, and increased Bacteroides and E. coli counts compared to non-AS animals. MS coupled with AS induced significantly decreased anaerobes and clostridia compared with the non-stress adult controls. Maternal probiotic intervention significantly increased neonatal corticosterone levels which persisted until at least week 12 in females only, and also resulted in elevated adult ACTH levels and altered neonatal microflora comparable to that of MS. However, it improved plasma IgA responses, increased enterococci and clostridia in MS adults, increased luminal IgA levels, and restored anaerobes, bifidobacteria and E. coli to normal in adults. CONCLUSION: Maternal probiotic intervention induced activation of neonatal stress pathways and an imbalance in gut microflora. Importantly however, it improved the immune environment of stressed animals and protected, in part, against stress-induced disturbances in adult gut microflora.

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  • Certain probiotics directly influence the exaggerated HPA axis response observed in several experimental models of IBS.

    “There is evidence that certain probiotics directly influence the exaggerated HPA axis response observed in several experimental models of IBS.”
  • Bifidobacterium animalis subsp lactis BB12 and Propionibacterium jensenii 702 improved the immune environment of stressed animals and protected against stress-induced disturbances in adult gut microflora.

    “but also improved the immune environment of stressed animals and protected against stress induced disturbances in adult gut microflora [246]”
  • Bifidobacterium animalis subsp lactis BB12 and Propionibacterium jensenii 702 induced activation of neonatal stress pathways and an imbalance in gut microflora.

    “Bifidobacterium animalis subsp lactis BB12 ® and Propionibacterium jensenii 702 induced activation of neonatal stress pathways and an imbalance in gut microflora”

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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. [29]Kotula L (2008) Application of a probiotic bacterium Propionibacterium jensenii 702 for human consumption. PhD Thesis, the University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia.

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Authors
Barouei, J., Moussavi, M., & Hodgson, D. M.
Affiliations
University of Newcastle Australia (AU)
Corresponding author
  • Barouei, Javad
  • Moussavi, Mahta
  • Hodgson, Deborah M.
Venue
PLoS ONE
Published
2012-10-11
Volume
7
Issue
10
Pages
e46051
ISSN
1932-6203 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2046986045
Cited by
99
References
70
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 13 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 3
FWCI
8.85
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • PLoS ONE (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • Figshare (submittedVersion)
  • NOVA (University of Newcastle Australia) (submittedVersion)
Funders
University of Newcastle Australia
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Food Science › Probiotics and Fermented Foods
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Gastroenterology › Gastrointestinal motility and disorders
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Gut microbiota and health
Keywords
maternal probiotic supplementation, Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-12, Propionibacterium jensenii, maternal separation, restraint stress, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, corticosterone, ACTH, gut microbiota, irritable bowel syndrome, neonatal stress, Bacteroides, Escherichia coli, Enterococcus, Clostridia
MeSH terms
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone, Animals, Animals, Newborn, Base Sequence, Bifidobacterium, Corticosterone, Female, Immunoglobulin A, Intestines, Male, Propionibacterium, Rats, Wistar, DNA Primers, Probiotics, Rats, Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction

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