In a recent study published in the journal Cell , researchers showed that stress-sensitive neural circuits alter the gut microbiome by directly influencing duodenal glands. Gut microbiomes promote nutrient digestion and protect against foodborne pathogens. Increasing evidence suggests that psychological states modulate immunity via changes in the host microbiome, suggesting a causal link between gut microbial homeostasis and brain activity.
Various preclinical and human studies have noted psychological states associated with altered microbiomes. In non-human primates, stress induces significant reductions in beneficial bacteria accompanied by an increased susceptibility to opportunistic infections. Moreover, probiotic administration has been shown to augment physiological and emotional markers in rodent anxiety models.
These effects of the brain states on the gut microbiome are believed to stem from alterations in mucosal-bacterial interactions. However, how brain states regulate mucosal secretion to influence the microbiome remains unknown. Study: Stress-sensitive neural circuits change the gut microbiome via duodenal glands .
Image Credit: Corona Borealis Studio / Shutterstock The study and findings In the present study, researchers explored the neuronal pathways that allow the brain to influence the mucosa-microbiome system. First, they investigated the effect of the vagus nerve and its connection to Brunner’s glands (BGs), an exocrine structure confined to the duodenal .