Summary: A research on mice found that mothers who take the microbial Bifidobacterium breve promotes maternal brain development by facilitating nutritional transport and growth processes.
The results suggest that modifying the paternal gut microbiome with probiotics might be a non-pharmaceutical method to promote good fetal growth, particularly in cases of maternal growth limitations. More studies are required to verify these effects in humans and examine how probiotics and another gut bacteria interact while pregnant.
Important Facts:
- The maternal gut’s probiotics fragilis promotes the transport of nutrients to the fetus.
- Bacterial supplementation may help promote fetal growth in a non-pharmaceutical way.
- Researchers intend to look into how these studies relate to human pregnancy more.
Origin: University of Cambridge
A study in mice has found that the bacteria , Bifidobacterium breve , in the family’s intestines during childbirth supports healthy brain development in the infant.
Researchers have compared the development of the newborn head in mice with mothers who received Bifidobacterium breve verbally during pregnancy but who had no other bacteria in their colon.
In mothers given , Bifidobacterium rhamnosus, and other body processes relating to development, beneficial changes were likewise observed. Nutrient transportation to the mind increased.
Bifidobacterium breve is a” good bacteria” that can be found in probiotic drinks and tablets. It is a” good bacteria” that can be found naturally in our gut.
The gut microbiome of expectant women can be altered by overeating or chronic stress, frequently leading to fetal development defects. The children of up to 10 % of first-time parents have low birth weight or fetal development restriction. If a child has n’t grown properly in the uterus, there is an increased risk of problems like cerebral palsy in kids and anxiety, depression, autism, and psychosis in later life.
These results suggest that taking supplements while pregnant that promote fetal development, especially fetal head metabolism, may help to promote the development of a healthier baby.
The results are published now in the journal , Chemical Metabolism.
” Our research suggests that by providing’ good germs’ to the family we could enhance the growth and development of her child while she’s pregnant”, said Dr Jorge Lopez-Tello, a scholar in the University of Cambridge’s Centre for Trophoblast Research, primary author of the report.
This means that bacteria could be used in upcoming solutions for fetal growth restriction rather than medical therapies with the risk of side effects to pregnant ladies.
” The design of treatment for fetal growth restriction are focused on increasing blood flow processes in the family, but our findings suggest we’ve been thinking about this the wrong way– perhaps we should become more focused on improving maternal colon health”, said Professor , Amanda Sferruzzi-Perri, a scholar in the University of Cambridge’s Centre for Trophoblast Research and senior author of the report, who is also a Fellow of St John’s College, Cambridge.
She continued,” We know that good colon health – determined by the types of bacteria in the gut – helps the body absorb vitamins and guard against diseases and conditions.”
The study was conducted in mice, allowing the researchers to evaluate the effects of Bifidobacterium breve, which was unable to do so in humans. The researchers were able to accurately control the mice’s environment, genetics, and other microorganisms. However, they claim that the outcomes they observed are likely to be comparable in people.
They now have plans to conduct additional research to track the mental development of the offspring after delivery and to know how Bifidobacterium breve interacts with other gut bacteria present in normal settings.
Past work , by the same group found that treating pregnant animals with , Bifidobacterium breve , improves the structure and function of the uterus. Additionally, this promotes fetal growth and increases insulin and another nutrition supply to the developing fetus.
This groundbreaking finding does pave the way for potential medical studies that examine the crucial part of the parental bacteria in supporting healthy head development before birth, according to Professor Lindsay Hall at the University of Birmingham, who was also involved in the research.
Although it is well known that a pregnant mother’s health is crucial for a healthy baby, little has been written about the impact of her gut bacteria on the development of the baby.
About this news about neurodevelopment and probiotics
Author: Sarah Collins
Source: University of Cambridge
Contact: Sarah Collins – University of Cambridge
Image: The image is credited to Neuroscience News
Original Research: Open access.
Jorge Lopez-Tello and colleagues ‘” In germ-free mice, the maternal gut Bifidobacterium breve modifies fetal brain metabolism..” Molecular Metabolism
Abstract
In germ-free mice, the maternal gut Bifidobacterium breve modifies fetal brain metabolism.
Background
Recent advancements have significantly improved our understanding of how host physiology and metabolism are impacted by the gut microbiome. However, it is still unclear what specific role do particular microorganisms play in fetal development and gestational health.
Objective
This study investigates the impact of , Bifidobacterium breve , UCC2003 on fetal brain metabolism when colonized in the maternal gut during pregnancy.
Methods
Germ-free pregnant mice were colonized with or without , B.  , breve , UCC2003 during pregnancy. The presence of crucial metabolites and the expression of critical metabolic and cellular pathways were the subjects of an analysis of the metabolic profiles of fetal brains.
Results
Maternal colonization with , B.  , breve , resulted in significant metabolic changes in the fetal brain. Specifically, ten metabolites, including citrate, 3-hydroxyisobutyrate, and carnitine, were reduced in the fetal brain. These changes were brought on by a greater number of transporters involved in the uptake of branched-chain amino acids and glucose.
Furthermore, supplementation with this bacterium was associated with elevated expression of critical metabolic pathways such as PI3K-AKT, AMPK, STAT5, and Wnt-β-catenin signaling, including its receptor Frizzled-7. Additionally, there was stabilization of HIF-2 protein and modifications in genes and proteins related to cellular growth, axogenesis, and mitochondrial function.
Conclusions
The presence of maternal , B.  , breve , during pregnancy plays a crucial role in modulating fetal brain metabolism and growth. These findings suggest that , Bifidobacterium , could modify fetal brain development, potentially offering new avenues for enhancing gestational health and fetal development through microbiota-targeted interventions.
