Summary of - Pelvic irradiation induces behavioural and neuronal damage through gut dysbiosis in a rat model
Abstract
Key Findings
- Pelvic irradiation affects gut microbiota, intestinal morphology, neuronal maturation, neural plasticity gene expression, and behaviour.
- Gut dysbiosis due to radiation contributes to inflammation, loss of intestinal integrity, and an increase in harmful gut bacteria.
- Gut dysbiosis induced by radiation results in reduced exploratory behavior in rats without affecting memory or anxiety levels.
- Gut dysbiosis from pelvic irradiation can lead to neuronal cell death, reduced astrocyte maturation, decreased exploratory behavior, and altered gene expression related to neural plasticity.
Objectives
- The study aimed to investigate the impact of pelvic irradiation on gut microbiota, intestinal morphology, and neuronal survival in rats, focusing on memory and cognition.
Methods
- Sprague Dawley rats were irradiated with 6 Gy, faecal samples were collected for microbial analysis, and behavioural, histological, and gene expression analyses were performed.
- 16S rRNA sequencing was used to analyze gut microbiota diversity in rats exposed to pelvic irradiation.
- Morphological parameters of the intestine were assessed, including villus distortion, crypt architecture, and mucin-producing goblet cells.
- Neuronal survival analysis was conducted in the hippocampus to evaluate the effects of radiation on neuronal viability.
- Expression levels of Bdnf and Nmda2 genes were analyzed in brain tissue to assess neuronal plasticity and neuromodulation.
Results
- Alterations in microbial diversity, disrupted intestinal morphology, neuronal death-related brain changes, neuroinflammation, and reduced locomotor activity were observed.
- Pelvic irradiation with 6 Gy led to significant changes in gut microbiota composition, intestinal morphology, and neuronal survival in rats.
- Radiation exposure altered the abundance of specific bacterial genera, villus structure, and neuronal viability in the hippocampus.
- Reduced expression of neural plasticity-related genes in the hippocampus was noted.
- Gut dysbiosis induced by radiation resulted in reduced exploratory behavior in rats without affecting memory or anxiety levels.
Conclusions
- Pelvic irradiation-induced gut dysbiosis can significantly impact brain structure and function through the microbiota-brain connection.
Recommended Citation
Venkidesh BS, Narasimhamurthy RK, Jnana A, Reghunathan D, Sharan K, Chandraguthi SG, Saigal M, Murali TS, Mumbrekar KD. Pelvic irradiation induces behavioural and neuronal damage through gut dysbiosis in a rat model. Chem Biol Interact. 2023 Dec 1; 386:110775. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cbi.2023.110775
This paper has been withdrawn.
