Repetitive transcranial direct current stimulation modulates the brain–gut–microbiome axis in obese rodents

Abstract

Background Complex interactions between the brain, gut and adipose tissue allow to recognize obesity as a neurometabolic disorder. The recent data have shown that gut microbiota can play a potential role in obesity development. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a safe and non-invasive technique to modulate the activity of cerebral cortex and other connected brain areas also in context of appetite control. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of repetitive anodal tDCS (AtDCS) of prefrontal cortex on feeding behavior, metabolic status and selected phyla of gut microbiota in rats with obesity induced by high-calorie diet (HCD). Methods 32 female Wistar rats were equally divided into 4 subgroups depending on diet effect (lean versus obese) and type of stimulation (active versus sham tDCS versus no stimulation). Feed intake, body weight, blood lipoproteins and leptin levels as well as Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes in intestines and stool were examined. Results HCD changed feeding behavior and metabolic parameters typically for obesity-related ranges and resulted in an abundance of Firmicutes at the expanse of Bacteroidetes in the large intestine and stool. AtDCS decreased appetite, body weight, and cholesterol levels. In addition, AtDCS reduced ratio of the average number of Firmicutes to average number of Bacteroidetes in all examined tissues. Conclusions Repetitive AtDCS is not only effective for appetite restriction but can also modulate gut microbiome composition which demonstrates the existence of the brain–gut–microbiome axis and points at this technique as a promising complementary treatment for obesity. However, the effects should be further replicated in human studies.

The New Markers of Early Obesity-Related Organ and Metabolic Abnormalities

“…Increased body fat was accompanied by significantly higher serum TCh, AST and ALT levels confirming the causative relationship between obesity and metabolic abnormalities. Our previous research found TCh to be the best indicator of obesity-related metabolic alternations in both male and female obese Wistar rats [ 18 , 21 ]. Among the determined parameters of lipid disorders, TCh differed significantly depending on the body fat and its level was highly correlated with the LDL concentration.…”

“…The rats, according to the specific diet consumed, were randomly assigned to the lean group (L) with an initial body weight (BW0) of 339 g (300 ÷ 370) or to the obese group (OB) with a BW0 of 325 g (302 ÷ 373). Both specific rate of body weight gain (sBWG; g/kg) and daily feed intake (dFI; kcal) were calculated according to the protocol described in our previous study [ 21 ].…”

Combined repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and gut microbiota modulation through the gut–brain axis for prevention and treatment of autism spectrum disorder

“…A previous study demonstrated the existence of a sophisticated network of nervous, metabolic, immune, and other associations between the brain and the GI tract, known as the gut-brain-microbiome axis ( 71 ). rTMS influenced selected phyla of the gut microbiota, and the changes were associated with alterations in behavioral and metabolic parameters.…”

Antiatherogenic Potential of Transcranial Electrical Stimulation in a High-Fructose/High-Fat Diet: Experimental Randomized Trial

“…Существуют отдельные экспериментальные исследования метода транскраниальной электротерапии постоянным током (tDCS), показавшие положительные эффекты в отношении регуляции пищевого поведения [13], коррекции нарушений, возникающих на фоне высококалорийной диеты, в оси «мозг -кишечник -микробиом» [14], коррекции гипергликемии [15], уменьшении выраженности стеатоза печени [16] и активности неспецифического low-grade воспаления у крыс на фоне ожирения [17].…”