Microbiota modulate behavioral and physiological abnormalities associated with neurodevelopmental disorders

Published December 19, 2013 in Cell

Neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD), are defined by core behavioral impairments; however, subsets of individuals display a spectrum of gastrointestinal (GI) abnormalities. We demonstrate GI barrier defects and microbiota alterations in the maternal immune activation (MIA) mouse model that is known to display features of ASD. UItimately, these findings support a gut-microbiome-brain connection in a mouse model of ASD and identify a potential probiotic therapy for GI and particular behavioral symptoms in human neurodevelopmental disorders.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=24315484

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