The Efficacy of Fecal Transplantation and Bifidobacterium Supplementation in Ameliorating Propionic Acid-Induced Behavioral and Biochemical Autistic Features in Juvenile Male Rats

• Published in: Journal of molecular neuroscience 2022-02, Vol.72 (2), p.372-381
• Main Authors: Abuaish, Sameera, Al-Otaibi, Norah M., Aabed, Kawther, Abujamel, Turki S., Alzahrani, Saleha Ahmad, Alotaibi, Sohailah Masoud, Bhat, Ramesa Shafi, Arzoo, Shaista, Algahtani, Norah, Moubayed, Nadine MS, El-Ansary, Afaf
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Autism; Autistic Disorder; Behavior, Animal - drug effects; Bifidobacterium; Biochemical markers; Biochemistry; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Brain; Cell Biology; Dietary Supplements; Fecal Microbiota Transplantation; Fecal microflora; Hormones; Intestinal microflora; Male; Microbiota; Neurochemistry; Neurological diseases; Neurology; Neurosciences; Oxidative stress; Oxytocin; Oxytocin - metabolism; Probiotics; Propionates - pharmacology; Propionic acid; Proteomics; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Signs and symptoms; Social behavior; Supplements; Transplantation; γ-Interferon
• ISSN: 0895-8696; 1559-1166
• DOI: 10.1007/s12031-021-01959-8

Gut microbiota plays a major role in neurological disorders, including autism. Modulation of the gut microbiota through fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) or probiotic administration, such as Bifidobacteria, is suggested to alleviate autistic symptoms; however, their effects on the brain are not fully examined. We tested both approaches in a propionic acid (PPA) rodent model of autism as treatment strategies. Autism was induced in Sprague–Dawley rats by administering PPA orally (250 mg/kg) for 3 days. Animals were later treated with either saline, FMT, or Bifidobacteria for 22 days. Control animals were treated with saline throughout the study. Social behavior and selected brain biochemical markers related to stress hormones, inflammation, and oxidative stress were assessed. PPA treatment induced social impairments, which was rescued by the treatments. In the brain, Bifidobacteria treatment increased oxytocin relative to control and PPA groups. Moreover, Bifidobacteria treatment rescued the PPA-induced increase in IFN-γ levels. Both treatments increased GST levels, which was diminished by the PPA treatment. These findings indicate the potential of gut microbiota-targeted therapeutics in ameliorating behavioral deficit and underlying neural biochemistry.