Figure 5
From: Alterations of the Host Microbiome Affect Behavioral Responses to Cocaine
Repletion of bacterial short-chain fatty acids reverses behavioral effect of antibiotics.
To determine if the bacterial byproducts were responsible for the changes seen in conditioned place preference (CPP), we measured animals treated with antibiotics (Abx) and/or short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) via the drinking water. Animals were tested for CPP at 5 mg/kg as this was the dose at which a behavioral effect of Abx was seen. As above, Abx treated animals showed a robust preference for cocaine (blue bar). Treatment with SCFA alone did not alter CPP response (grey hatched bar). Animals treated with Abx and SCFA showed the same level of preference as the control animals (blue hatched bar) demonstrating that repletion of bacterial byproducts can reverse the behavioral effects of depleting gut microbiota [n = 5–22/group; **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001].
