Social overcrowding impacts gut microbiota, promoting stress, inflammation, and dysglycemia.

ABSTRACT: An array of chronic inflammatory diseases, including metabolic diseases such as obesity and diabetes, are thought to be promoted by disturbance of the intestinal microbiota. Such diseases disproportionately impact low-income communities, which are frequently afflicted by chronic stress and increased density housing. Hence, we hypothesized that overcrowded housing might promote stress, microbiota dysbiosis, inflammation, and, consequently, metabolic diseases. We tested this hypothesis in a tractable murine model of social overcrowding (SOC), in which mice were housed at twice normal density. SOC moderately impacted behavior in some widely used assays (Open Field, Elevated Plus Maze and Light/Dark tests) and resulted in a stark increase in corticosterone levels. Such indices of stress were a

SUBMITTER: Delaroque C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8726700 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan-Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature