Lactoferrin deficiency during lactation increases the risk of depressive-like behavior in adult mice.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Lactoferrin is an active protein in breast milk that plays an important role in the growth and development of infants and is implicated as a neuroprotective agent. The incidence of depression is currently increasing, and it is unclear whether the lack of lactoferrin during lactation affects the incidence of depressive-like behavior in adulthood.

Results

Lack of lactoferrin feeding during lactation affected the barrier and innate immune functions of the intestine, disrupted the intestinal microflora, and led to neuroimmune dysfunction and neurodevelopmental delay in the hippocampus. When exposed to external stimulation, adult lactoferrin feeding-deficient mice presented with worse depression-like symptoms; the mechanisms involved were activation of the LPS-TLR4 sig

SUBMITTER: Wang W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10617225 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature