Psychobiotics improve propionic acid-induced neuroinflammation in juvenile rats, rodent model of autism

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the protective and therapeutic potency of bee pollen and probiotic mixture on brain intoxication caused by propionic acid (PPA) in juvenile rats. Five groups of six animals each, were used: the control group only receiving phosphate-buffered saline; the bee pollen and probiotic-treated group receiving a combination of an equal quantity of bee pollen and probiotic (0.2 kg/kg body weight); the PPA group being treated for 3 days with an oral neurotoxic dose of PPA (0.25 kg/kg body weight); the protective and therapeutic groups receiving bee pollen and probiotic mixture treatment right before and after the neurotoxic dose of PPA, respectively. The levels of interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12, tumor necrosis factor α, and interferon γ (IFN-γ) were investigated to evaluate the neuroinflammatory responses in brain tissues from different animal groups. The much higher IL-1β, IL-8, and IFN-γ, as pro-inflammatory cytokines (P < 0.001), together with much lower IL-10, as anti-inflammatory cytokine (P < 0.001) compared to controls clearly demonstrated the neurotoxic effects of PPA. Interestingly, the mixture of bee pollen and probiotics was effective in alleviating PPA neurotoxic effects in both therapeutic and protective groups demonstrating highly significant changes in IL-1β, IL-8, IL-10, and IFN-γ levels together with non-significant reduction in IL-6 levels compared to PPA-treated rats. Overall, our findings demonstrated a new approach to the beneficial use of psychobiotics presenting as bee pollen and probiotic combination in neuroinflammation through cytokine changes as a possible role of glial cells in gut–brain axis.

Measuring Knowledge and Awareness of the Psychobiotics Role in Mental Health Among Some Groups of Society of Saudi People

“…Notably, when compared to control mice, PS128 treatment markedly raised dopamine and serotonin levels in the striatum and prefrontal cortex (Liu et al, 2015(Liu et al, , 2016. A different study discovered a novel method for the advantageous application of probiotics and bee pollen in the context of neuroinflammation caused by cytokine alterations and the potential involvement of glial cells in the gut-brain axis (Alonazi et al, 2022). In 1954, Brock Chisholm made the foresighted statement that "No physical health without mental health" (Kolappa et al, 2013).…”

Roles of Epigenetics and Glial Cells in Drug-Induced Autism Spectrum Disorder

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Psychobiotics and fecal microbial transplantation for autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: microbiome modulation and therapeutic mechanisms

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