Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Effects of Lactobacillus Acidophilus Mediated Improvement of Intestinal Barrier in Mice with Autism.
- Journal:
- Probiotics and antimicrobial proteins
- Year:
- 2026
- Authors:
- Song, Yong et al.
- Affiliation:
- Medical College of YiChun University · China
- Species:
- rodent
Abstract
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) involves complex neurodevelopmental interactions between the gastrointestinal tract, gut microbiota, and brain function. Growing evidences implicated that bidirectional microbiota-gut-brain axis signaling in ASD pathophysiology. This study examines how Lactobacillus acidophilus (ATCC-4356) alters behavioral phenotypes in a valproic acid-induced maternal immune activation (MIA) mouse model of autism. The MIA model was intraperitoneally injected with valproic acid, while controls were intraperitoneally injected with saline. Behavioral testing showed that repetitive, stereotyped, anxiety-like, and social behaviors were significantly improved (P < 0.05) after L. acidophilus (ATCC-4356) intragastric administration for seven weeks. Western blot analysis demonstrated that tight junction proteins (Claudin 1, Claudin 3, Occludin, and ZO) were highly expressed in the L. acidophilus (ATCC-4356) group versus the autism model (P < 0.05), suggesting enhanced intestinal barrier integrity. Inflammatory factor concentrations in both colon and hippocampus were markedly reduced in the L. acidophilus (ATCC-4356) group (P < 0.05). Gut microbiota sequencing showed significant increases of microbial diversity and richness in the L. acidophilus (ATCC-4356) group (P < 0.05). Hippocampal immunofluorescence revealed higher NeuN-, Ki67-, and BrdU-positive cell counts in the L. acidophilus (ATCC-4356) group (P < 0.05). Results suggest that L. acidophilus (ATCC-4356) ameliorates autistic-like behaviors, potentially through modulation of intestinal barrier function. Furthermore, results showed that therapeutic efficacy was reduced by L. acidophilus (ATCC-4356) in autism after antibiotic-induced dysbiosis of the intestinal microbiota In this paper, the results showed that L. acidophilus (ATCC-4356) improves autism-like behaviors by modulating gut barrier function.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41201723/