Homeostatic regulation of neuronal excitability by probiotics in male germ‐free mice. Issue 2 (21st December 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kim, Juhyun; Kim, Dong Won; Lee, Adrian; Mason, Madisen; Jouroukhin, Yan; Woo, Hyewon; Yolken, Robert H.; Pletnikov, Mikhail V.
• Is Part Of: Journal of neuroscience research. Volume 100:Issue 2(2022)
• Page Start: 444
• Page End: 460
• Publication Date: 2021-12-21
• Subjects: amygdala -- germ‐free mice -- hippocampus -- neuronal excitability -- probiotics; Neurobiology -- Periodicals; 612
• DOI: 10.1002/jnr.24999
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0360-4012

Abstract

Abstract: Emerging evidence indicates that probiotics can influence the gut–brain axis to ameliorate somatic and behavioral symptoms associated with brain disorders. However, whether probiotics have effects on the electrophysiological activities of individual neurons in the brain has not been evaluated at a single‐neuron resolution, and whether the neuronal effects of probiotics depend on the gut microbiome status have yet to be tested. Thus, we conducted whole‐cell patch‐clamp recording‐assisted electrophysiological characterizations of the neuronal effects of probiotics in male germ‐free (GF) mice with and without gut microbiome colonization. Two weeks of treatment with probiotics ( Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Bifidobacterium animalis ) significantly and selectively increased the intrinsic excitability of hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons, whereas reconstituting gut microbiota in GF mice reversed the effects of the probiotics leading to a decreased intrinsic excitability in hippocampal neurons. This bidirectional modulation of neuronal excitability by probiotics was observed in hippocampal neurons with corresponding basal membrane property and action potential waveform changes. However, unlike the hippocampus, the amygdala excitatory neurons did not show any electrophysiological changes to the probiotic treatment in either GF or conventionalized GF mice. Our findings demonstrate for the first time how probiotic treatment can have a significant influence on the electrophysiological properties of neurons, bidirectionally modulating their intrinsic excitability in a gut microbiota and brain area‐specific manner. Abstract : Probiotics, Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Bifidobacterium animalis, induce homeostatic changes in the excitability of hippocampal neurons in a gut microbiome status‐dependent manner in male germ‐free mice.