Saccharomyces boulardii improves the behaviour and emotions of spastic cerebral palsy rats through the gut-brain axis pathway

BMC Neuroscience

Tangwu Zhong¹  Deshuang Tao²  Wei Pang³  Xiaojie li³ 

[1] College of Basic Medicine, Jiamusi University, Jiamusi, Heilongjiang, China;College of Basic Medicine, Jiamusi University, Jiamusi, Heilongjiang, China;Jiamusi Central Hospital, Jiamusi, Heilongjiang, China;College of Rehab Medicine, Jiamusi University, Jiamusi, China;Rehab Center for Child Cerebral Palsy, Jiamusi, Heilongjiang, China;Institute of Pediatric Neurological Disorders, Jiamusi University, Jiamusi, China;

关键词: Hemiplegic spastic cerebral palsy;    Animal model;    Saccharomyces boulardii;    Gut microbiome;    HPA axis;    Inflammation;    Depression-like behaviour;    Immune regulation;    Gut-brain axis;    probiotics;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12868-021-00679-4

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundCerebral palsy (CP) is a kind of disability that influences motion, and children with CP also exhibit depression-like behaviour. Inflammation has been recognized as a contributor to CP and depression, and some studies suggest that the gut-brain axis may be a contributing factor. Our team observed that Saccharomyces boulardii (S. boulardii) could reduce the inflammatory level of rats with hyperbilirubinemia and improve abnormal behaviour. Both CP and depression are related to inflammation, and probiotics can improve depression by reducing inflammation. Therefore, we hypothesize that S. boulardii may improve the behaviour and emotions of spastic CP rats through the gut-brain axis pathway.MethodsOur new rat model was produced by resecting the cortex and subcortical white matter. Seventeen-day-old CP rats were exposed to S. boulardii or vehicle control by gastric gavage for 9 days, and different behavioural domains and general conditions were tested. Inflammation was assessed by measuring the inflammatory markers IL-6 and TNF-α. Hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis activity was assessed by measuring adrenocorticotropic hormone and corticosterone in the serum. Changes in the gut microbiome were detected by 16S rRNA.ResultsThe hemiplegic spastic CP rats we made with typical spastic paralysis exhibited depression-like behaviour. S. boulardii treatment of hemiplegic spastic CP rats improves behaviour and general conditions and significantly reduces the level of inflammation, decreases HPA axis activity, and increases gut microbiota diversity.ConclusionsThe model developed in this study mimics a hemiplegic spastic cerebral palsy. Damage to the cortex and subcortical white matter of 17-day-old Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats led to spastic CP-like behaviour, and the rats exhibited symptoms of depression-like behaviour. Our results indicate that S. boulardii might have potential in treating hemiplegic spastic CP rat models or as an add-on therapy via the gut-brain axis pathway.

【 授权许可】

CC BY