Human resident gut microbe Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron regulates colonic neuronal innervation and neurogenic function.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

As the importance of gut-brain interactions increases, understanding how specific gut microbes interact with the enteric nervous system (ENS), which is the first point of neuronal exposure becomes critical. Our aim was to understand how the dominant human gut bacterium Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron (Bt) regulates anatomical and functional characteristics of the ENS.

Methods

Neuronal cell populations, as well as enteroendocrine cells, were assessed in proximal colonic sections using fluorescent immunohistochemistry in specific pathogen-free (SPF), germ-free (GF) and Bt conventionalized-germ-free mice (Bt-CONV). RNA expression of tight junction proteins and toll-like receptors (TLR) were measured using qPCR. Colonic motility was analyzed using in v

SUBMITTER: Aktar R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7524364 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature