Effect of a probiotic fermented milk supplementation on behavior and sleep

ABSTRACT

This study attempted to analyze the effect of supplementing Wistar-Kyoto rats with fermented milk containing the probiotic Bifidobacterium animalis BB-12 and pomegranate juice on the microbiota-gut-brain axis of rats, with special focus on their behavior, sleep patterns, and response to stress. This study was divided into two experiments: (1) For the behavioral analysis the animals were divided into two groups: Fermented probiotic milk (BB + 1) and control (BB-). (2) For the sleep analysis the animals were divided into two groups: Fermented probiotic milk (BB + 2) and control (H2O). For the behavioral analysis, the open field method was used, which evaluates the behavior after ten, twenty, and thirty days of supplementation. For sleep analysis, the animals were submitted to implantation of electrodes and 24 h polysomnography, followed by 48 h sleep deprivation (REM) and 48 h polysomnography, then euthanized 100 days after the beginning of the experiment. In addition, animal feces were collected before and after sleep deprivation to assess its effects on the microbiota. A decrease in anxiety-related behaviors was observed in the supplemented animals and an increase in sleep efficiency and a reduction in the number of awakenings of the animals before deprivation. It has also been observed that sleep deprivation decreased the amount of total bacterial DNA. The number of copies of genomes of the genus Bifidobacterium did not differ in both groups.

KEYWORDS:

• Animal model
• B. animalis
• sleep deprivation
• supplementation
• polysomnography
• open field

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by grants from the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (2017/25007-9) and Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico – CNPq. This study was financed in part by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior –Brazil (CAPES) –Finance Code 001. The authors would like to thank the laboratories: Laboratório de Lácteos Probióticos e Prebióticos (LLPP) and Laboratório de Sono e Exercício Físico (LASEF). The authors would like to thank Espaço da Escrita (Pró-Reitoria de Pesquisa/UNICAMP), for the language services provided.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability

All data presented in the manuscript can be shared upon request to the corresponding author.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by FAPESP [grant number 2017/25007-9].

Notes on contributors

Samara M. Freitas

Samara M. Freitas is from Laboratory of Sleep and Exercise, School of Applied Sciences, University of Campinas, Limeira, Brazil.

Beatriz Franco

Beatriz Franco is from Laboratory of Sleep and Exercise, School of Physical Education, University of Campinas, Limeira, Brazil.

Giulio Saragiotto

Giulio Saragiotto is from Dairy Products, Probiotics and Prebiotics Laboratory, School of Applied Sciences, University of Campinas, Limeira, Brazil.

Milca A. Morais

Milca A. Morais is from Laboratory of Sleep and Exercise, School of Physical Education, University of Campinas, Limeira, Brazil.

Fernando M. Simabuco

Fernando M. Simabuco is from Multidisciplinary Food and Health Laboratory, School of Physical Education, University of Campinas, Limeira, Brazil.

Diogo T. Cunha

Diogo T. Cunha is from Multidisciplinary Food and Health Laboratory, School of Physical Education, University of Campinas, Limeira, Brazil.

Andrea M. Esteves

Andrea M. Esteves is from Laboratory of Sleep and Exercise, School of Physical Education, University of Campinas, Limeira, Brazil.

Adriane E. C. Antunes

Adriane E. C. Antunes is from Dairy Products, Probiotics and Prebiotics Laboratory, School of Applied Sciences, University of Campinas, Limeira, Brazil.