Russian Journal of PhysiologyRussian Journal of PhysiologyРоссийский физиологический журнал им. И.М. Сеченова0869-81392658-655XThe Russian Academy of Sciences69143810.7868/S2658655X25070037mvmwneEXPERIMENTAL ARTICLESЭКСПЕРИМЕНТАЛЬНЫЕ СТАТЬИResearch ArticleBehavioral profile and gut microbiota composition in rats with different nervous system excitabilityПоведенческий профиль и состав кишечной микробиоты у крыс с различной возбудимостью нервной системыShalaginovaI. G.ШалагиноваИ. Г.shalaginova_i@mail.ruKatserovD. S.КацеровД. С.EnshK. O.ЭншК. О.BudenkovaE. A.БуденковаЕ. А.PribyshinaA. K.ПрибышинаА. К.DyuzhikovaN. A.ДюжиковаН. А.Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal UniversityБалтийский федеральный университет им. Иммануила КантаPavlov Institute of Physiology of the Russian Academy of SciencesИнститут физиологии им. И.П. Павлова РАН150720251117VOL 111, NO7 (2025)ТОМ 111, №7 (2025)1042106526092025Copyright ©; 2025, Russian Academy of SciencesCopyright ©; 2025, Российская академия наук2025Russian Academy of SciencesРоссийская академия наукhttps://journals.eco-vector.com/0869-8139/article/view/691438

Previous studies have shown that two rat strains selected by the excitability threshold of the nervous system exhibit differences in response to prolonged emotional-pain stress at behavioral, neurobiological, and molecular-genetic levels, as well as specific changes in gut microbiota composition. This suggests a potential link between genetic factors, microbiota, and behavioral disturbances. The aim of this study is to analyze the gut microbiota and behavioral profiles of intact rats with high (HT) and low (LT) excitability thresholds to identify key differences driven by their genetic characteristics. The behavior of intact rats from two strains was analyzed in the Open Field and Elevated Plus Maze, and microbiota analysis in stool samples was conducted using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Behavioral analysis revealed that high-excitable (LT) rats exhibited higher activity and less freezing in the Elevated Plus Maze compared to low-excitable (HT) rats. Alpha-diversity indices showed no significant differences between the strains, but beta-diversity analysis revealed significant differences in microbial profiles between HT and LT rats. LT rats had significantly higher abundances of Lactobacillus and Faecalibacterium genera, whereas HT rats showed a higher relative abundance of Romboutsia, Eubacterium, and Turicibacter genera. The integration of behavioral and microbiota data highlights a potential relationship between genetic factors, gut microbiota profiles, and the unique physiological and behavioral traits of rat strains selected based on the excitability threshold of the nervous system.

Предыдущие исследования показали, что две линии крыс, селектированные по порогу возбудимости нервной системы в ответ на длительное эмоционально-болевое стрессирование, проявляют различия как на поведенческом, так и на нейробиологическом и молекулярно-генетическом уровнях, а также специфические изменения выявляются и в составе кишечного микробиома. Это указывает на потенциальную связь между генетическими факторами, микробиотой и нарушениями поведения. Целью данного исследования являлся анализ кишечной микробиоты и поведенческих профилей интактных крыс линий с высоким (ВП) и низким (НП) порогами возбудимости нервной системы для выявления ключевых различий, обусловленных их генетическими особенностями. Поведение интактных крыс двух линий было проанализировано в тестах “Открытое поле” и “Приподнятый крестообразный лабиринт”, анализ микробиоты в образцах стула проведен с использованием ампликонного секвенирования гена 16S рРНК. Поведенческий анализ показал, что высоковозбудимые крысы (линия НП) демонстрировали более высокую активность и менее выраженное замирание в приподнятом крестообразном лабиринте по сравнению с низковозбудимыми крысами (линия ВП). Показатели альфа-разнообразия микробиоты кишечника не различались между линиями, но анализ бета-разнообразия показал значимые различия в микробных профилях между линиями ВП и НП. Крысы линии НП имеют значимо более высокую по сравнению с линией ВП представленность родов Lactobacillus и Faecalibacterium, в то время как у крыс линии ВП выше относительная представленность родов Romboutsia, Eubacterium и Turicibacter. Интеграция данных о поведении и микробиоте выявляет потенциальную взаимосвязь между генетическими факторами, профилями кишечного микробиома и уникальными физиологическими и поведенческими характеристиками линий крыс, селектированных по порогу возбудимости нервной системы.

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