Compelling evidence links enteric microbes to brain function and behavior. Galacto-oligosaccharide prebiotics have been shown to modulate the composition of gut flora and induce metabolic, neurochemical, and behavioral changes in adult rodents. Despite the brain being most susceptible to environmental factors, such as nutrients and toxins, during the earliest stages of development, it is unknown whether maternal prebiotic supplementation during gestation and lactation influences the offspring gut microbiome, brain, or behavior. The aim of this study was to test whether maternal galacto-oligosaccharide intake during pregnancy and lactation alters the brain and behavior in naïve and endotoxin-challenged offspring. CD1 female mice received either normal drinking water or water supplemented with Bimuno® galacto-oligosaccharides (B-GOS) during gestation and suckling. Offspring behavior was tested at weaning age or adulthood, and a cross-foster design was employed in a separate cohort to differentiate between effects of prenatal and postnatal maternal B-GOS intake. Lipopolysaccharide was also administered to pups at postnatal day 9 to determine whether maternal B-GOS influences the neurobiological and behavioral effects of a neonatal pro-inflammatory challenge in adulthood. Fecal microbiome composition and metabolites were analyzed to explore potential relationships between the maternal microbiome, the offspring gut microbiome, and the offspring brain and behavior. Maternal B-GOS supplementation increased exploratory behavior and reduced expression of hippocampal glutamate receptor genes in young, weaning-age offspring. In addition, postnatal, but not prenatal, B-GOS supplementation increased fecal butyrate and propionate levels. Finally, in adult offspring, perinatal B-GOS intake increased cortical glutamate receptor subunits in females, increased social preference, and reduced anxiety. We provide novel and comprehensive evidence for the influence of maternal prebiotic intake on offspring behavior, brain gene expression, and gut microbiome composition in mice.

中文翻译：

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妈妈的饮食很重要：母鼠摄入益生元可减少焦虑并改变后代的大脑基因表达和粪便微生物组

令人信服的证据将肠道微生物与大脑功能和行为联系起来。低聚半乳糖益生元已被证明可以调节肠道菌群的组成，并诱导成年啮齿动物的代谢、神经化学和行为变化。尽管大脑在发育的最早阶段最容易受到环境因素（如营养素和毒素）的影响，但尚不清楚在妊娠和哺乳期间母体补充益生元是否会影响后代肠道微生物组、大脑或行为。本研究的目的是测试母体在怀孕和哺乳期间摄入的低聚半乳糖是否会改变幼稚和内毒素攻击后代的大脑和行为。CD1 雌性小鼠在妊娠和哺乳期间接受正常饮用水或补充有 Bimuno® 低聚半乳糖 (B-GOS) 的水。在断奶年龄或成年期测试后代行为，并在单独的队列中采用交叉寄养设计来区分产前和产后母体 B-GOS 摄入量的影响。还在出生后第 9 天对幼崽施用脂多糖，以确定母体 B-GOS 是否影响成年后新生儿促炎挑战的神经生物学和行为影响。分析粪便微生物组的组成和代谢物，以探索母体微生物组、后代肠道微生物组以及后代大脑和行为之间的潜在关系。母体 B-GOS 补充剂增加了断奶年龄的年轻后代的探索行为并降低了海马谷氨酸受体基因的表达。此外，产后而非产前补充 B-GOS 会增加粪便丁酸和丙酸水平。最后，在成年后代中，围产期 B-GOS 摄入增加了雌性皮质谷氨酸受体亚基，增加了社会偏好，并减少了焦虑。我们为母体益生元摄入对小鼠后代行为、大脑基因表达和肠道微生物组组成的影响提供了新颖而全面的证据。围产期 B-GOS 摄入增加了女性皮质谷氨酸受体亚基，增加了社会偏好，减少了焦虑。我们为母体益生元摄入对小鼠后代行为、大脑基因表达和肠道微生物组组成的影响提供了新颖而全面的证据。围产期 B-GOS 摄入增加了女性皮质谷氨酸受体亚基，增加了社会偏好，减少了焦虑。我们为母体益生元摄入对小鼠后代行为、大脑基因表达和肠道微生物组组成的影响提供了新颖而全面的证据。