Correlation of gut microbiota and neurotransmitters in a rat model of post-traumatic stress disorder

Objective:To determine the effect of gut microbiota on a rat model of post-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD)and explore the correlation of gut microbiota with behavior and neurotransmitters.Methods:We established a single prolonged stress(SPS)model to examine the pathogenesis of PTSD on rat behavior,gut microbiota,and neurotransmitter levels.Rats were separated into control and model groups,and neurotransmitter levels were measured using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay.Then,16 S rRNA sequencing was used to compare the gut microbiota between the control and model groups.Results:Compared with those in the control group,freezing time significantly increased,while number of standing upright,crossing frequency,time spent in the central arena,and total distance traveled were significantly reduced in the model group after exposure to SPS(all P<.05).Meanwhile,serotonin,or 5-hydroxytryptamine,levels in the brain in the model group were significantly lower than those the control group(P紏.0332).In addition,changes were observed in the gut microbiota diversity and relative abundances of bacterial phyla,orders,families,and genera in the model group.Especially,changes in Firmicutes,Bacteroidetes,Cyanobacteria,and Proteobacteria levels were most pronounced after SPS exposure.Correlation analysis showed that the strongest positive correlation was found between Bacteroidaceae and 5-HT(P?.0009).Moreover,RF32 abundance was the most negatively related to 5-HT(P?.0009),crossing frequency(P?.0007),and total distance(P?.0003).Conclusion:Our results suggest that SPS model rats showed differences in behavior,neurotransmitter levels,and gut microbiota with control rats.Moreover,Firmicutes,Bacteroidetes,Cyanobacteria,and Proteobacteria were most relevant to the exhibited fear-like and anxiety-like behaviors and significant serotonin content reduction in SPS model rats.

Zingiber officinale(Ginger)Methanol Extract Abates Kidney Dysfunction in Mice Co-exposed to Sub-chronic Alcohol Intoxication and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

Background:Increasing number of people globally gives in to indiscriminate consumption of excess alcohol as a coping mechanism to relieve any form of physical or psychological stress.Previously,ethnomedicinal use of Zingiber officinale Roscoe(Ginger)have been shown to exhibit broad range of pharmacological benefits but no data has reported the phytotherapeutic treatment of Zingiber officinale methanol extract(MEZO)on alcohol-use disorder(AUD)and post-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD)-induced oxidative and inflammatory stress relevant to disruption of kidney functions in animal model.Objective:To investigate the protective effect of MEZO on kidney-oxidative and inflammatory biomarkers in sub-chronic alcohol exacerbation of PTSD symptoms in mice.Methods:Male Swiss mice were administered 30%ethanol for two weeks and thereafter introduced to single pro-longed stress to induce AUD and PTSD respectively prior to post-treatment with MEZO and vitamin C.Markers of oxidative stress,inflammatory cytokines,kidney functions,HPA-axis signaling molecules,vasodilator substance,and histopathology of the kidney were evaluated.Results:Sub-chronic alcohol intoxication heightened PTSD-induced oxido-inflammatory stress,altered the kidney function indices and HPA-axis,and reduced nitric oxide production,which were ameliorated by the phytother-apeutic treatment with MEZO.Furthermore,severe degeneration and atrophy of renal tubules were observed.Meanwhile,MEZO interventions strongly abated all these effects.Conclusions:Herein,the study shows that phytotherapeutic treatment with MEZO prevents the damaging effects of co-exposure to sub-chronic alcohol intoxication and PTSD.