Neurogastroenterology & MotilityVolume 23, Issue 12 p. 1132-1139 The anxiolytic effect of Bifidobacterium longum NCC3001 involves vagal pathways for gut–brain communication P. Bercik, P. Bercik Department of Medicine, Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, CanadaSearch for more papers by this authorA. J. Park, A. J. Park Department of Medicine, Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, CanadaSearch for more papers by this authorD. Sinclair, D. Sinclair Department of Medicine, Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, CanadaSearch for more papers by this authorA. Khoshdel, A. Khoshdel Department of Medicine, Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, CanadaSearch for more papers by this authorJ. Lu, J. Lu Department of Medicine, Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, CanadaSearch for more papers by this authorX. Huang, X. Huang Department of Medicine, Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, CanadaSearch for more papers by this authorY. Deng, Y. Deng Department of Medicine, Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, CanadaSearch for more papers by this authorP. A. Blennerhassett, P. A. Blennerhassett Department of Medicine, Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, CanadaSearch for more papers by this authorM. Fahnestock, M. Fahnestock Department of Psychiatry & Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, CanadaSearch for more papers by this authorD. Moine, D. Moine Bioanalytical Science Department, Nestlé Research Center, Lausanne, SwitzerlandSearch for more papers by this authorB. Berger, B. Berger Bioanalytical Science Department, Nestlé Research Center, Lausanne, SwitzerlandSearch for more papers by this authorJ. D. Huizinga, J. D. Huizinga Department of Medicine, Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, CanadaSearch for more papers by this authorW. Kunze, W. Kunze Department of Medicine, Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, CanadaSearch for more papers by this authorP. G. McLean, P. G. McLean Digestive Health, Nutrition and Health Department, Nestlé Research Center, Lausanne, SwitzerlandSearch for more papers by this authorG. E. Bergonzelli, G. E. Bergonzelli Digestive Health, Nutrition and Health Department, Nestlé Research Center, Lausanne, SwitzerlandSearch for more papers by this authorS. M. Collins, S. M. Collins Department of Medicine, Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, CanadaSearch for more papers by this authorE. F. Verdu, E. F. Verdu Department of Medicine, Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, CanadaSearch for more papers by this author P. Bercik, P. Bercik Department of Medicine, Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, CanadaSearch for more papers by this authorA. J. Park, A. J. Park Department of Medicine, Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, CanadaSearch for more papers by this authorD. Sinclair, D. Sinclair Department of Medicine, Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, CanadaSearch for more papers by this authorA. Khoshdel, A. Khoshdel Department of Medicine, Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, CanadaSearch for more papers by this authorJ. Lu, J. Lu Department of Medicine, Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, CanadaSearch for more papers by this authorX. Huang, X. Huang Department of Medicine, Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, CanadaSearch for more papers by this authorY. Deng, Y. Deng Department of Medicine, Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, CanadaSearch for more papers by this authorP. A. Blennerhassett, P. A. Blennerhassett Department of Medicine, Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, CanadaSearch for more papers by this authorM. Fahnestock, M. Fahnestock Department of Psychiatry & Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, CanadaSearch for more papers by this authorD. Moine, D. Moine Bioanalytical Science Department, Nestlé Research Center, Lausanne, SwitzerlandSearch for more papers by this authorB. Berger, B. Berger Bioanalytical Science Department, Nestlé Research Center, Lausanne, SwitzerlandSearch for more papers by this authorJ. D. Huizinga, J. D. Huizinga Department of Medicine, Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, CanadaSearch for more papers by this authorW. Kunze, W. Kunze Department of Medicine, Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, CanadaSearch for more papers by this authorP. G. McLean, P. G. McLean Digestive Health, Nutrition and Health Department, Nestlé Research Center, Lausanne, SwitzerlandSearch for more papers by this authorG. E. Bergonzelli, G. E. Bergonzelli Digestive Health, Nutrition and Health Department, Nestlé Research Center, Lausanne, SwitzerlandSearch for more papers by this authorS. M. Collins, S. M. Collins Department of Medicine, Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, CanadaSearch for more papers by this authorE. F. Verdu, E. F. Verdu Department of Medicine, Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, CanadaSearch for more papers by this author First published: 11 October 2011 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2982.2011.01796.xCitations: 83 Address for Correspondence Elena F Verdu, MD, PhD, Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute, McMaster University, HSC 3N8, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada L8S 4K1. Tel: 1 (905) 525 9140/Ext 21952; fax: 1 (905) 522 3454; e-mail: verdue@mcmaster.ca Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat Abstract Background The probiotic Bifidobacterium longum NCC3001 normalizes anxiety-like behavior and hippocampal brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in mice with infectious colitis. Using a model of chemical colitis we test whether the anxiolytic effect of B. longum involves vagal integrity, and changes in neural cell function. Methods Mice received dextran sodium sulfate (DSS, 3%) in drinking water during three 1-week cycles. Bifidobacterium longum or placebo were gavaged daily during the last cycle. Some mice underwent subdiaphragmatic vagotomy. Behavior was assessed by step-down test, inflammation by myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and histology. BDNF mRNA was measured in neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells after incubation with sera from B. longum- or placebo-treated mice. The effect of B. longum on myenteric neuron excitability was measured using intracellular microelectrodes. Key Results Chronic colitis was associated with anxiety-like behavior, which was absent in previously vagotomized mice. B. longum normalized behavior but had no effect on MPO activity or histological scores. Its anxiolytic effect was absent in mice with established anxiety that were vagotomized before the third DSS cycle. B. longum metabolites did not affect BDNF mRNA expression in SH-SY5Y cells but decreased excitability of enteric neurons. Conclusions & Inferences In this colitis model, anxiety-like behavior is vagally mediated. The anxiolytic effect of B. longum requires vagal integrity but does not involve gut immuno-modulation or production of BDNF by neuronal cells. As B. longum decreases excitability of enteric neurons, it may signal to the central nervous system by activating vagal pathways at the level of the enteric nervous system. Citing Literature Volume23, Issue12December 2011Pages 1132-1139 RelatedInformation

The anxiolytic effect of Bifidobacterium longum NCC3001 involves vagal pathways for gut-brain communication