METHELYNEDIOXYMETAMPHETAMINE (MDMA) TREATMENT IN RAT ALTERS THE GUT MICROBIOTA POPULATION

The gut microbiome is inhabited by at least a hundred trillion microorganisms which play a fundamental role in health, diseases and immune responses in humans. Previous studies have highlighted the ability of gut micro-organisms to communicate with the brain and modulate behavioral responses in dise...

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Published inThe Ohio journal of science Vol. 118; no. 1; p. A45
Main Authors Choudhury, Sayantan Roy, Ridge, Emily Ann, Sprague, Jon Eric, Larsen, Raymond Anthony, Phuntumart, Vipaporn
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Columbus Ohio Academy of Science 01.04.2018
Subjects
Animals
Bacteria
Biochemical tests
Brain
Cecum
Colonies
Diabetes mellitus
Ecstasy
Immune response
Intestinal microflora
Intestine
MDMA
Microbiomes
Microbiota
Microorganisms
Movement disorders
Neurodegenerative diseases
Neurological diseases
Parkinson's disease
Plates
Rats
rRNA 16S
Selective media
Swarming
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Summary:The gut microbiome is inhabited by at least a hundred trillion microorganisms which play a fundamental role in health, diseases and immune responses in humans. Previous studies have highlighted the ability of gut micro-organisms to communicate with the brain and modulate behavioral responses in diseases such as diabetes, inflammatory bowel syndrome, Parkinson's disease and other neurological disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate the alteration of the microbial population in the gut of rats in response to 3,4 methelyne-dioxymetamphetamine (MDMA) administration. To obtain the gut microbiome, fecal samples from animals before treatment and cecal contents from the animals at 90 minutes post-MDMA and saline treatment were collected and suspended in sterile phosphate buffered saline. Serial dilutions of samples were then carried out by plating on Leuria-Bertini (LB) agar plates. The plates were incubated overnight at 37 °C. The results showed no significant difference in numbers of bacterial colonies among animals after MDMA treatment as opposed to control animals treated with saline. Intriguingly, swarming colonies of bacteria were observed in the plates derived from cecal contents of rats treated with MDMA indicating changing behaviors of some bacteria in response to MDMA. A combination of biochemical tests, selective media and molecular identification of 16S rRNA gene revealed these bacterial swarmers were in the genus Proteus. This study indicates administration of MDMA changes the gut microbial composition, but the impact of this change is unknown.
ISSN:0030-0950
2471-9390