Maternal Supplementation with Lactobacillus paracasei DTA 83 Alters Emotional Behavior in Swiss Mice Offspring

The objective of our study was to evaluate whether maternal supplementation with lactic acid bacteria is able to alter neurobehavioral parameters of Swiss mice offspring. For this purpose, female mice were treated during pregnancy and lactation with milk or milk inoculated with L. paracasei DTA 83 at a concentration of 107 cells/ml (p.o, daily). After the end of the treatment, 6 offspring per group were submitted to euthanasia and the hippocampus was dissected for RNA analysis. After completing 70 days of life, 12 male offspring per group were submitted to a battery of behavioral tests. According to our results, treated offspring had a reduction in the expression of GAD 65, GAD 67 and GABAA receptor α3 subunit in the hippocampus. In the adult phase, the offspring of the treated group had higher time in the central area in the open field test, lower latency to the light side in the light-dark box test and lower number of decision-making behaviors in the elevated plus maze test. These results indicate that maternal supplementation with L. paracasei DTA 83 modulates offspring hippocampal GABAergic system. Such changes could possibly be associated with the reduction of anxiety-like behavior upon reaching adulthood.Graphical abstract
Source: PharmaNutrition - Category: Nutrition Source Type: research