Sex Difference in the Effect of Bifidobacterium longum on Repeated Water Avoidance Stress-induced Gut Dysbiosis in Wistar Rats
- Author:
Soo In CHOI
1
;
Nayoung KIM
;
Ryoung Hee NAM
;
Jae Young JANG
;
Eun Hye KIM
;
SungChan HA
;
Kisung KANG
;
Wonseok LEE
;
Cheol Min SHIN
;
Dong Ho LEE
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article
- From:Journal of Cancer Prevention 2024;29(1):16-23
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: Dysbiosis in gut microbiota is known to contribute to development of irritable bowel syndrome. We tried to investigate the effect of Bifidobacterium longum on repeated water avoidance stress (WAS) in a Wistar rat model. The three groups (no-stress, WAS, and WAS with B. longum) of rats were allocated to sham or WAS for 1 hour daily for 10 days, and B. longum was administered through gavage for 10 days. Fecal pellet numbers were counted at the end of each 1-hour session of WAS. After 10 days of repeated WAS, the rats were eutanized, and the feces were collected. WAS increased fecal pellet output (FPO) significantly in both sexes (P < 0.001), while the female B. longum group showed significantly decreased FPO (P = 0.005). However, there was no consistent change of myeloperoxidase activity and mRNA expression of interleukin-1ββ and TNF-αα. Mast cell infiltration at colonic submucosa increased in the female WAS group (P = 0.016). In terms of fecal microbiota, the repeated WAS groups in both sexes showed different beta-diversity compared to control and WAS with B. longum groups. WAS-induced mast cell infiltration was reduced by the administration of B. longum in female rats. Moreover, administration of B. longum relieved WAS-caused dysbiosis, especially in female rats. In conclusion, B. longum was beneficial for WAS-induced stress in rats, especially in females.