Probiotics May Play a Role in Alleviating Anxiety and Depression
In this study involving mice, the authors demonstrate the effects of the probiotic, Lactobacillus rhamnosus on various brain regions, specifically, treatment with L. rhamnosus was found to induce region-dependent alterations in GABA(B1b) mRNA in the brain with increases in cortical regions and concomitant reductions in expression in the hippocampus, amygdala, and locus coeruleus. L. rhamnosus was found to reduce GABA(A Receptor alpha-2) mRNA expression in the prefrontal cortex and amygdala, while increasing GABA (A Receptor alpha-2) in the hippocampus. Furthermore, treatment with L. rhamnosus was found to reduce stress-induced corticosterone and anxiety- and depression-related behavior, and interestingly, these neurochemical and behavioral effects were not found in vagotomized mice, suggesting the vagus nerve as a major modulatory constitutive communication pathway between the bacteria exposed to the gut and the brain. The authors conclude, “..These findings highlight the important role of bacteria in the bidirectional communication of the gut-brain axis and suggest that certain organisms may prove to be useful therapeutic adjuncts in stress-related disorders such as anxiety and depression.”
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