Chronobiology
Author: Manuel Crespo | Email: manuel.crespo94@outlook.com
Manuel Crespo1°, Marcos Bilen2°,Alana Del Río2°, Diego Golombek3°, Juan Chiesa1°, Patricia Agostino1°
1° Laboratorio de Cronobiología, Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnología, Universidad Nacional de Quilmes / CONICET
2° 2Laboratorio de Ingeniería Genética, Biología Celular y Molecular, Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnología, Universidad Nacional de Quilmes / CONICET
3° 3Laboratorio Interdisciplinario del Tiempo (LITERA), Universidad de San Andrés / CONICET. Buenos Aires, Argentin
Recent evidence highlights the vital role of gut microbiota in regulating mammalian physiology and behavior, including circadian rhythms. The circadian system regulates several physiological, metabolic, and behavioural rhythms with a period close to 24 h. When food availability is restricted to an interval of the light phase (time restricted feeding, TRF), nocturnal animals adapt to this condition by feeding only during this interval and develop a food anticipatory activity (FAA) driven by a food-entrainable oscillator (FEO). Signals from the gut microbiota influence behaviors related to motivation for food rewards. Therefore, we hypothesized a physiological link between gut microbiota and FEO activity by examining circadian FAA behavior as a motivational outcome. To test this hypothesis, C57BL/6J mice were treated with antibiotics to induce gut microbiota dysbiosis and were subjected to a 3-hour TRF protocol during the day. The antibiotic-treated mice showed increased FAA, shorter time for its consolidation, and higher motivation levels. Furthermore, these mice exhibited elevated levels of tyrosine hydroxylase in the nucleus accumbens and ventral tegmental area. These findings suggest that gut microbiota plays a regulatory role in circadian behavioral rhythms governed by the FEO and in reward-driven motivation. Understanding the role of the circadian system and its potential disruption by gut microbiota is crucial for maintaining health and well-being.