Science

Helene M. Savignac,Giulia Corona, Henrietta Mills, Li Chen, Jeremy P.E. Spencer, George Tzortzis, and Philip W.J. Burnet,

The influence of the gut microbiota on brain chemistry has been convincingly demonstrated in rodents. In the absence of gut bacteria, the central expression of brain derived neurotropic factor, (BDNF), and N­methyl­D­ aspartate receptor (NMDAR) subunits are reduced, whereas, oral probiotics increase brain BDNF, and impart significant anxiolytic effects. We tested whether prebiotic compounds, which increase intrinsic enteric microbiota, also affected brain BDNF and NMDARs. In addition, we examined whether plasma from prebiotic treated rats released BDNF from human SH­SY5Y neuroblastoma cells, to provide an initial indication of mechanism of action.