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Physiology & behavior2019; 202; 94-100; doi: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2019.02.003

Dietary-induced modulation of the hindgut microbiota is related to behavioral responses during stressful events in horses.

Abstract: The bidirectional communication between the central and the enteric nervous system named the gut-brain axis has been widely recognized. The gut microbiota has been implicated in a variety of stress-related conditions including anxiety, depression and irritable bowel syndrome based on rodent studies or correlative analysis in human patients. The aim of the present study was to investigate to what extent changes in behavior during stressful events and in the microbial composition of the colonic ecosystem were associated in horses. The microbiota alterations were induced by a change from a high-fiber diet (100% hay, H diet) to a progressive low-fiber and high-starch diet (56% hay and 44% barley, HB diet) on six fistulated horses. Colonic total anaerobic, cellulolytic, amylolytic and lactate-utilizing bacteria were enumerated once on H diet and once on HB diet. Bacterial richness, diversity and structure at family and genus level were also determined. The behavior of horses was assessed through two standardized stressful tests: a novelty test and an umbrella test. The different alterations measured in the colonic microbiota demonstrated a lower fibrolytic capacity and a higher amylolytic capacity of the ecosystem when horses received HB compared to H diet. During the novelty test, the frequency of blowing was significantly higher in HB than in H diet and was positively correlated with the concentration of amylolytic bacteria and the Succinivibrionaceae relative abundance. During the umbrella test, behavioral variables were not significantly different between the diets but the colonic content pH was negatively correlated with the frequency of startle response. Behavioral responses of anxiety were related to hindgut microbiota indicators of a high-starch diet. Dietary-induced modulation of the gut microbiota composition may have changed the horses' behavioral reactions in stressful situations.
Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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Publication Date: 2019-02-03 PubMed ID: 30726719DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2019.02.003Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research examines the relationship between diet-induced changes in a horse’s gut bacteria and their behavioral responses to stress. Alterations in the digestive bacteria were linked to changes in behavior during stressful events, suggesting a role of gut health in managing stress responses.

Dietary Change and Microbial Composition

  • The study explored how variations in a horse’s behavior during stressful periods are linked to changes in the microbial constituents of their colonic ecosystem. These changes were brought about by a dietary shift from a high-fiber diet (100% hay) to a low-fiber, high-starch diet (56% hay and 44% barley).
  • The research was conducted on six fistulated horses. The horses’ colonic total anaerobic, cellulolytic, amylolytic and lactate-utilizing bacteria were counted once on a high-fiber diet and once on a low-fiber, high-starch diet.
  • Alterations in the colonic microbiota demonstrated a decreased capacity for fiber breakdown (fibrolytic) and an increased capacity for starch breakdown (amylolytic) when horses were fed the low-fiber, high-starch diet compared to the high-fiber diet.

Behavioral Responses During Stressful Tests

  • The researchers assessed the horses’ behavior by conducting two standardized stress tests – a novelty test and an umbrella test.
  • During the novelty test, the horses on the low-fiber, high-starch diet displayed a higher frequency of blowing (a potential sign of stress or discomfort) compared to the horses on the high-fiber diet. This behavior was positively correlated with an increase in the concentration of bacteria that break down starch (amylolytic bacteria) and a specific bacterial family known as Succinivibrionaceae.
  • Although there were no significant differences in behavior between the different diets during the umbrella test, they found a negative correlation between the colonic content pH and the frequency of startle responses, suggesting different physiological reactions based on the diet.

Implication of the Findings

  • The research implies that dietary-induced changes in a horse’s gut microbiota may alter their responses to stress. Indicators of a high-starch diet in the gut microbiota were associated with anxious behavioral responses.
  • This suggests that maintaining gut health, possibly through a balanced diet, can potentially aid in managing stress responses in horses. More research will be required to fully understand the implications and applications of this finding.

Cite This Article

APA
Destrez A, Grimm P, Julliand V. (2019). Dietary-induced modulation of the hindgut microbiota is related to behavioral responses during stressful events in horses. Physiol Behav, 202, 94-100. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2019.02.003

Publication

Physiology & behavior
ISSN: 1873-507X
NlmUniqueID: 0151504
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 202
Pages: 94-100
PII: S0031-9384(18)30987-9

Researcher Affiliations

Destrez, Alexandra
  • AgroSup Dijon, Univ. Bourgogne Franche-Comté, INRA, CNRS, UMR6265 CSGA - Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l'Alimentation, Dijon F-21000, France. Electronic address: alexandra.destrez@agrosupdijon.fr.
Grimm, Pauline
  • Lab To Field, France.
Julliand, Véronique
  • Univ. Bourgogne Franche-Comté, AgroSup Dijon, PAM UMRA 02.102, F-21000 Dijon, France.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Colon / microbiology
  • Diet / veterinary
  • Gastrointestinal Microbiome / physiology
  • Horses / physiology
  • Horses / psychology
  • Male
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / genetics
  • Stress, Psychological / microbiology
  • Stress, Psychological / physiopathology
  • Stress, Psychological / psychology

Citations

This article has been cited 19 times.
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