Giving probiotics to pregnant mice can improve both the immune response and behavior of the mothers and their young, according to new research from The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and College of Medicine.
According to a recent study by The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and College of Medicine, administering probiotics to pregnant mice has the potential to strengthen the immune systems and behaviors of both the mothers and their pups.
“Our findings indicate that certain probiotics administered to mothers during pregnancy could enhance their puppies’ behavior and might alter the metabolism of common dietary amino acids. Additionally, probiotics could mitigate the adverse effects of prenatal stress,” stated Tamar Gur, MD, PhD, the senior author of the study and director of the Soter Women’s Health Research Program, who is also affiliated with Ohio State’s Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health.
The results of this study have been published online in the journal Brain, Behavior, and Immunity.
Probiotics are helpful live microorganisms, such as bacteria, that promote healthy digestion and immune functions. Numerous studies have confirmed the positive effects of probiotics, which are regarded as safe for pregnant women to consume.
Researchers, led by first author Jeffrey Galley, PhD, discovered that a particular probiotic known as Bifidobacterium dentium may influence how certain amino acids, including tryptophan, are processed by the body.
Tryptophan plays a crucial role during pregnancy in regulating inflammation and supporting brain development.
“We have compelling evidence that this specific probiotic can lessen stress-related issues in both mothers and their young, including promoting weight gain in the babies and enhancing their social interactions,” said Gur, who is also an associate professor in the departments of psychiatry, neuroscience, and obstetrics and gynecology at Ohio State.
Gur’s research team has been investigating how stress during pregnancy can lead to atypical brain development and behavioral alterations in the offspring. They have identified that stress is associated with changes in brain inflammation, amino acid metabolism, and long-term negative impacts on social behavior and microbiomes in the young.
This research provides deeper insights into how gut microbes and probiotics can affect amino acid metabolism and address behavioral and immune challenges linked to prenatal stress. It also underscores the numerous benefits of this specific probiotic, even in the absence of stress.
“Our next goal is to uncover the underlying mechanisms driving these changes and to explore strategies for preventing or mitigating these effects,” Gur noted. “Given that prenatal stress is a frequent occurrence in many pregnancies, we aim to create methods to lessen its harmful impacts.”
