Prenatal depression-associated gut microbiota induces depressive-like behaviors and hippocampal neuroinflammation in germ-free mice

Oct 6, 2025Translational psychiatry

Gut bacteria linked to prenatal depression cause depression-like behavior and brain inflammation in mice without microbes

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Abstract

Fecal microbiota from women with prenatal depression induced significant changes in germ-free mice, including altered gut bacteria and increased neuroinflammation.

  • Mice receiving (FMT) from women with prenatal depression exhibited decreased levels of Ligilactobacillus and increased levels of Akkermansia.
  • Altered glycerophospholipid metabolism was observed in mice after FMT from women with prenatal depression.
  • Plasma lipopolysaccharide (LPS) levels significantly increased in mice that received FMT, indicating potential systemic inflammation.
  • Proliferation of microglia in the hippocampus was significant in mice receiving FMT, suggesting neuroinflammatory responses.
  • Expression levels of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) p65, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) mRNA were significantly elevated in FMT mice, indicating active neuroinflammation.
  • Dysbiosis of gut microbiota is associated with depressive-like behaviors and may play a causal role in the development of prenatal depression.

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Key numbers

17×
Increase in Akkermansia
Relative abundance of Akkermansia in the gut microbiota of recipient mice.
17×
Decrease in Ligilactobacillus
Relative abundance of Ligilactobacillus in the gut microbiota of recipient mice.
17×
Increase in plasma
Plasma concentrations in recipient mice.

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