Psychobiotic interventions attenuate chronic alcohol use-mediated exacerbation of posttraumatic stress disorder in rats: the role of gut-liver axis response

Abstract

Objectives The incidence of co-occurring alcohol-use disorder (AUD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is high, and the presence of one disorder aggravates the severity of the other. Emerging evidence shows the neuroprotective and anti-inflammation functions of psychobiotics. Hence, the study explored the effects of probiotics and synbiotic inulin on the gut- and liver-oxidative and inflammatory biomarkers in chronic alcohol exacerbation of PTSD symptoms in rats. Methods Young adult rats were administered 10% ethanol in a two-bottle choice test for six weeks and were subjected to single prolonged stress. Probiotics and synbiotic intervention followed this. Markers of oxido-inflammatory stress, liver functions, intestinal (faecal) metabolites, occludin expression, and histopathology of the ileum and liver were evaluated. Results Chronic alcohol drinking and PTSD increased oxido-inflammatory stress, markers of hepatic damage, and reduced faecal metabolites, which were attenuated by probiotic and synbiotic interventions. Furthermore, reduced immunoexpression of gut and liver occludin, with loss of barrier integrity, viable hepatocytes, congestive portal area, and shortened villi and crypt depth, were observed. Probiotic and synbiotic interventions mitigated these effects. Conclusions The study demonstrates that psychobiotics mitigate the detrimental effects of co-occurring chronic alcohol intake in the context of PTSD.

Anti-inflammatory and Neuroprotective Effects of Lactobacillus Strains Contribute to its Antidepressant-Like Property Against Chronic Unpredictable Stress-Induced Behavioural Abnormalities in Mice

“…All animals were housed singly and the following stressors were applied for three weeks: water withdrawal (12 hrs), cage tilt at 45 o (7 hrs), moist beddings (7 hrs), overnight illumination (12 hrs), background noise (30 mins), food withdrawal (12 hrs), moist beddings (12 hrs), tail pinch (1 min), cage tilt at 45 o (12 hrs), foot shock (30 sec), overnight illumination (12 hrs) and final cage tilt at 45 o (7 hrs). [20][21][22] In order for the protocol to truly be unpredictable, no same stressor was applied on two consecutive days.…”