Maternal antibiotics disrupt microbiome, behavior, and temperature regulation in unexposed infant mice

Abstract

Maternal antibiotic (ABx) exposure can significantly perturb the transfer of microbiota from mother to offspring, resulting in dysbiosis of potential relevance to neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Studies in rodent models have found long‐term neurobehavioral effects in offspring of ABx‐treated dams, but ASD‐relevant behavior during the early preweaning period has thus far been neglected. Here, we exposed C57BL/6J mouse dams to ABx (5 mg/ml neomycin, 1.25 μg/ml pimaricin, .075% v/v acetic acid) dissolved in drinking water from gestational day 12 through offspring postnatal day 14. A number of ASD‐relevant behaviors were assayed in offspring, including ultrasonic vocalization (USV) production during maternal separation, group huddling in response to cold challenge, and olfactory‐guided home orientation. In addition, we obtained measures of thermoregulatory competence in pups during and following behavioral testing. We found a number of behavioral differences in offspring of ABx‐treated dams (e.g., modulation of USVs by pup weight, activity while huddling) and provide evidence that some of these behavioral effects can be related to thermoregulatory deficiencies, particularly at younger ages. Our results suggest not only that ABx can disrupt microbiomes, thermoregulation, and behavior, but that metabolic effects may confound the interpretation of behavioral differences observed after early‐life ABx exposure.

From Mother to Infant, from Placenta to Gut: Understanding Varied Microbiome Profiles in Neonates

“…These observations were attributed to a potential decrease in the transmission of bacteria during or shortly after delivery. It is also plausible, however, that maternal antibiotics may limit the colonization of the fetal gut by bacteria even before birth, leading to an atypical immune priming [71].…”

Exposure to Antibiotics and Neurodevelopmental Disorders: Could Probiotics Modulate the Gut–Brain Axis?

“…Similar evidence comes from a recent study where C57BL/6J mouse dams were exposed to antibiotic treatment dissolved in drinking water from gestational day 12 through offspring of the postnatal period (P14). Male and female offspring display ASD-like behaviors, including alteration in ultrasonic vocalization production during maternal separation and altered offspring thermoregulation in comparison to age-matched control [ 145 ].…”