In an incredible new study , mice with societal behavioral deficits similar to those understand in man with autism were able to surmount their symptoms after eating the poop of healthy computer mouse . The researchers behind the project say this is down to the fact that the autistic computer mouse lack a particulargut bacteriathat somehow change their brain connectivity , and that consuming the droppings of other mice restored their microbiome .
Inspiration for this research came from the growing body of evidence that obesity during pregnancyincreases the peril of autismin human babies . To try and determine why this is the grammatical case , researchers from the Baylor College of Medicine induced obesity in female mice by feeding them a high - avoirdupois dieting for eight workweek , noting that the offspring of these obese rodents displayed clear societal deficit .
When placed in the same habitat as non - autistic mice , however , these youngsters deplete the poop of their new John Milton Cage Jr. - mate – a behavior that is on a regular basis witness in mice . Soon afterwards , the researchers noted a reversal in theirautism - like symptoms .
key out their findings in the journalCell , the study source explain how this find lead them to believe that the gnawer ’ bowel bacterium was somehow influencing their social demeanor . To investigate , they analyse the eccentric of microorganisms present in the digestive pamphlet of both groups of mouse , and found that those with autism lacked several key bacteria – a trait they probably develop as a result of their mothers ’ high - fat diet and fleshiness during maternity .
In particular , one bacteria calledLactobacillus reuteriwas found to be massively reduce in the autistic mice . The researcher therefore decided to add this bacterium to the water of these computer mouse , observe that this , too , led to a turn around of their behavioral symptom .
As such , the study authors believe that a deficiency ofLactobacillus reuteri , triggered by maternal obesity , may be a major cause of autism . To inquire how this bacteria produces behavioral deficits , the squad examine the neurological bodily function of the mice , retrieve that those with autism displayed decreased activity in the so - called reward circuit of their brains when interact socially . This appear to be produced by an abnormally low concentration of a special hormone called oxytocin .
However , after being treat withLactobacillus reuteri , oxytocin story received a boost , resulting in an addition in activity in the reinforcement circuit , and a subsequent disappearing of autism - corresponding behaviour .
The fact that the squad were able to on the face of it turn back these symptom using just a unmarried gut bacterium is of course staggeringly bright , potentially opening the door to novel treatments for autism . However , more work is necessitate before we get our hopes up , as lead researcher Mauro Costa - Mattioli explained in astatement : “ Whether it would be effective in world , we do n’t recognize yet , but it is an extremely exciting way of affecting the brain from the catgut . ”
A shortfall of Lactobacillus reuteri in the gut , because of parental obesity during pregnancy , may lead to autism . Kateryna Kon / Shutterstock
