The effect of pre- and postnatal probiotic supplementation on anxiety of prenatally stress-exposed rats

Acute and chronic noise stress cause both temporary and permanent changes in the central nervous system. Serotonergic system has major role in depression and anxiety. Investigations are shown that consuming probiotics promotes development of serotonergic system. In this study the effect of pre- and postnatal probiotic supplementation on anxiety of prenatally stress-exposed rats were examined.

Sixty male Wistar adult rats were randomly allocated to six groups (n = 10 for each): CON (control), CONA (the rats which received probiotic from post-natal day 31 for 2 weeks), CONB (the rats whose mothers received probiotic from day 8 of pregnancy for 2 weeks), ST (stress, the rats whose mothers received sound stress from day 15 of pregnancy for 1 week), STA (the rats were similar to ST group but received probiotic from post-natal day 31 for 2 weeks), STB (the rats were similar to ST group but whose mothers received sound stress from day 15 of pregnancy for 1 week). The probiotic supplement, including Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus fermentum, Bifidobacterium lactis (1010 CFU/ML) were given daily for 2 weeks via oral gavage. The level of anxiety was measured in all rats at post-natal day 45 by elevated plus maze. The serum level of corticosterone was also measured in all groups.

The rats in STA and STB groups showed lower anxiety compared to ST group, which was significant statistically. The corticosterone level, which was increased by sound stress returned to the control level in STA and STB groups.

Two weeks pre- and/or post-natal probiotic supplementation decreases anxiety and corticostrone  level in prenatally stress-exposed rats.