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   Common probiotics can reduce stress levels, lessen anxiety   
   Date:   
   November 21, 2016   
   Source:   
   University of Missouri   
   Summary:   
   Studying how gut bacteria affect behavior in zebrafish could lead to a better   
   understanding of how probiotics may affect the central nervous system in   
   humans.   
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   A common probiotic sold in supplements and yogurt can decrease stress-related   
   behavior and anxiety, report scientists.   
   Credit: © sebra / Fotolia   
   Probiotics, or beneficial live bacteria that are introduced into the body,   
   have become increasingly popular as a way to improve health and well-being.   
   Previous studies have shown a direct correlation between gut microbes and the   
   central nervous system.    
   Now, researchers at the University of Missouri, using a zebrafish model,   
   determined that a common probiotic sold in supplements and yogurt can decrease   
   stress-related behavior and anxiety. Studying how gut bacteria affect behavior   
   in zebrafish could lead    
   to a better understanding of how probiotics may affect the central nervous   
   system in humans. Their results recently were published in Scientific Reports   
   a journal of Nature.   
      
      
   "Zebrafish are an emerging model species for neurobehavioral studies and their   
   use is well-established in drug-screening," said Aaron Ericsson, director of   
   the MU Metagenomics Center and a research assistant professor in the   
   Department of Veterinary    
   Pathobiology. "Our study has shown that simple probiotics that we normally use   
   to keep our digestive tract in sync, could be beneficial to reducing our   
   stress levels as well."   
      
   In a series of studies, researchers tested how zebrafish behaved after doses   
   of Lactobacillus plantarum, a common bacteria found in yogurt and probiotic   
   supplements. In the first study, scientists added the bacteria to certain   
   tanks housing zebrafish;    
   other tanks of zebrafish received no probiotics. Then, the researchers   
   introduced environmental stressors to both groups, such as draining small   
   amounts of water from the tank and overcrowding.   
      
   "Each day we introduced a different stressor -- tests that are validated by   
   other researchers and cause higher anxiety among zebrafish," said Elizabeth   
   Bryda, professor of veterinary pathobiology in the MU College of Veterinary   
   Medicine. "These are    
   common environmental stress patterns, such as isolation stress and temperature   
   change, so it made the tests relevant to humans as well."   
      
   By analyzing the gene pathways of both groups of fish, the research team found   
   that zebrafish that were given the supplements showed a reduction in the   
   metabolic pathways associated with stress.   
      
   "By measuring the genes associated with stress and anxiety, our tests were   
   able to predict how this common probiotic is able to benefit behavioral   
   responses in these fish," said Daniel Davis, assistant director of the MU   
   Animal Modeling Core. "   
   Essentially, bacteria in the gut altered the gene expression associated with   
   stress- and anxiety-related pathways in the fish allowing for increased   
   signaling of particular neurotransmitters."   
      
   To test their theory further, the researchers measured the movements of fish   
   in their tanks using sophisticated computer measuring and imaging tools.   
   Previous studies of fish behavior have found that fish that are stressed tend   
   to spend more time at the    
   bottom of their tanks. Once the fish were administered probiotics, they tended   
   to spend more time toward the top of the tanks -- the change in behavior   
   indicating they were less stressed or less anxious.   
      
   "Using zebrafish, we've developed a relatively inexpensive platform for   
   testing of other species of bacteria and probiotics and their potential   
   benefit on different systems of the body," Ericsson said.   
      
      
   Story Source:   
      
   Materials provided by University of Missouri. Note: Content may be edited for   
   style and length.   
      
   Journal Reference:   
      
   Daniel J. Davis, Holly M. Doerr, Agata K. Grzelak, Susheel B. Busi, Eldin   
   Jasarevic, Aaron C. Ericsson, Elizabeth C. Bryda. Lactobacillus plantarum   
   attenuates anxiety-related behavior and protects against stress-induced   
   dysbiosis in adult zebrafish.    
   Scientific Reports, 2016; 6: 33726 DOI: 10.1038/srep33726   
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   University of Missouri. "Common probiotics can reduce stress levels, lessen   
   anxiety." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 21 November 2016. .   
      
      
       
      
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