determines the expression of amphetamine-induced behavioral responses through an epigenetic phenomenon.

Amphetamines (AMPHs) are psychostimulants commonly used for the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders. They are also misused (AMPH use disorder; AUD), with devastating outcomes. Recent studies have implicated dysbiosis in the pathogenesis of AUD.

Fecal Microbiota Transplantation from Young-Trained Donors Improves Cognitive Function in Old Mice Through Modulation of the Gut-Brain Axis.

The gut-brain axis is a bidirectional communication pathway that modulates cognitive function. A dysfunctional gut-brain axis has been associated with cognitive impairments during aging. Therefore, we propose evaluating whether modulation of the gut microbiota through fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) from young-trained donors (YT) to middle-aged or aged mice could enhance brain function and cognition in old age.

Enhanced Astrocyte Activity and Excitatory Synaptic Function in the Hippocampus of Pentylenetetrazole Kindling Model of Epilepsy.

Epilepsy is a chronic condition characterized by recurrent spontaneous seizures. The interaction between astrocytes and neurons has been suggested to play a role in the abnormal neuronal activity observed in epilepsy. However, the exact way astrocytes influence neuronal activity in the epileptogenic brain remains unclear.

Early-Life Exposure to Non-Absorbable Broad-Spectrum Antibiotics Affects the Dopamine Mesocorticolimbic Pathway of Adult Rats in a Sex-Dependent Manner.

Gut microbiota with a stable, rich, and diverse composition is associated with adequate postnatal brain development. Colonization of the infant's gut begins at birth when parturition exposes the newborn to a set of maternal bacteria, increasing richness and diversity until one to two first years of age when a microbiota composition is stable until old age. Conversely, alterations in gut microbiota by diet, stress, infection, and antibiotic exposure have been associated with several pathologies, including metabolic and neuropsychiatric diseases such as obesity, anxiety, depression, and drug addiction, among others.

Sertraline and Citalopram Actions on Gut Barrier Function.

Introduction: Disruption of intestinal barrier is a key component to various diseases. Whether barrier dysfunction is the cause or effect in these situations is still unknown, although it is believed that translocation of luminal content may initiate gastrointestinal or systemic inflammatory disorders. Since trauma- or infection-driven epithelial permeability depends on Toll-like receptor (TLR) activity, inhibition of TLR signaling has been proposed as a strategy to protect intestinal barrier integrity after infection or other pathological conditions.

Do your gut microbes affect your brain dopamine?

Increasing evidence shows changes in gut microbiota composition in association with psychiatric disorders, including anxiety and depression. Moreover, it has been reported that perturbations in gut microbe diversity and richness influence serotonergic, GABAergic, noradrenergic, and dopaminergic neurotransmission. Among these, dopamine is regarded as a main regulator of cognitive functions such as decision making, attention, memory, motivation, and reward.

Investigating Gut Permeability in Animal Models of Disease.

A growing number of investigations report the association between gut permeability and intestinal or extra-intestinal disorders under the basis that translocation of gut luminal contents could affect tissue function, either directly or indirectly. Still, in many cases it is unknown whether disruption of the gut barrier is a causative agent or a consequence of these conditions. Adequate experimental models are therefore required to further understand the pathophysiology of health disorders associated to gut barrier disruption and to develop and test pharmacological treatments.

Protein Malnutrition During Juvenile Age Increases Ileal and Colonic Permeability in Rats.

Protein malnutrition can lead to morphological and functional changes in jejunum and ileum, affecting permeability to luminal contents. Regarding the large intestine, data are scarce, especially at juvenile age. We investigated whether low-protein (LP) diet could modify ileal and colonic permeability and epithelial morphology in young rats.

What goes around comes around: novel pharmacological targets in the gut-brain axis.

The gut and the brain communicate bidirectionally through anatomic and humoral pathways, establishing what is known as the gut-brain axis. Therefore, interventions affecting one system will impact on the other, giving the opportunity to investigate and develop future therapeutic strategies that target both systems. Alterations in the gut-brain axis may arise as a consequence of changes in microbiota composition (dysbiosis), modifications in intestinal barrier function, impairment of enteric nervous system, unbalanced local immune response and exaggerated responses to stress, to mention a few.

Short-term effects of Poly(I:C) on gut permeability.

The intestinal barrier function depends on an adequate response to pathogens by the epithelium. Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR-3) recognizes double-stranded RNA, a virus-associated molecular pattern. Activation of TLR-3 with Poly(I:C), a synthetic agonist, modulates tissue repair and permeability in other epithelia; however, the effects of local luminal TLR-3 agonists on gut barrier function are unknown.