Behavioral profile and gut microbiota composition in rats with different nervous system excitability

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Abstract

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.

About the authors

I. G. Shalaginova

Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University; Pavlov Institute of Physiology of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Email: shalaginova_i@mail.ru
Kaliningrad, Russia; Saint Petersburg, Russia

D. S. Katserov

Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University

Kaliningrad, Russia

K. O. Ensh

Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University

Kaliningrad, Russia

E. A. Budenkova

Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University

Kaliningrad, Russia

A. K. Pribyshina

Pavlov Institute of Physiology of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Saint Petersburg, Russia

N. A. Dyuzhikova

Pavlov Institute of Physiology of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Saint Petersburg, Russia

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