The Effect of Parental Faecal Microbiome Transplantation from Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder on Behavior and Gastrointestinal Manifestations in the Male Offspring of Shank3 Mice.

Researchers studied how gut bacteria from children with autism might affect mouse babies. They gave pregnant mice gut bacteria from autistic children and watched the baby mice grow up. The baby mice showed autism-like behaviors including learning problems, anxiety, and eating issues. Mice with autism genes were affected differently than normal mice. The study suggests gut bacteria might play a role in autism development alongside genetics.

This preclinical study investigated how gut microbiota from children with autism affects behavior and gastrointestinal function in genetically modified mice. Researchers performed fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) from autistic children to pregnant mice and examined outcomes in their offspring. Wild-type offspring exposed to autism-associated microbiota showed delayed neurodevelopment, altered feeding behavior, and increased body weight. Shank3 knockout mice (a genetic autism model) displayed learning impairments and increased anxiety after FMT exposure.

Interestingly, FMT improved learning in adolescent Shank3 mice. Both genotypes showed decreased hypothalamic neuron activity and increased colon permeability when exposed to autism microbiota. The study suggests gut microbiota may interact with genetic factors to influence autism-like behaviors.

Findings suggest gut microbiota may interact with genetic factors in autism development. However, this is early preclinical research requiring human validation. The complex, sometimes contradictory effects observed indicate microbiota interventions would need careful consideration of timing, genetic background, and individual factors.

Animal study using mouse models may not translate directly to humans. Sample size not reported. Single study without replication. Unclear methodology details in abstract. Complex interactions between genetics and microbiota require further investigation.

The increasing incidence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) increases the urgency of establishing the mechanism of its development for effective prevention and treatment. ASD's etiology includes genetic predisposition and environmental triggers, both of which can play a role in the changed microbiota. Recent research has proved the impact of maternal microbiota on the neurodevelopment of the child. To investigate the co-play of genetic and microbiota factors in ASD development, we performed fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) from children with ASD to femalemice and studied the autism-like symptoms in the maleand wild-type (WT) offspring.

WT animals with prenatal exposure to ASD microbiota had delayed neurodevelopment and impaired food intake behavior, but also elevated plasma leptin concentration and body weight.mice after FMT ASD exhibited impaired learning and exacerbated anxiety-like behavior in adulthood. Interestingly, FMT ASD improved learning in adolescentmice. Prenatal exposure to ASD microbiota decreased the activity of hypocretin neurons of the lateral hypothalamic area in both genotypes. The combination of genetic predisposition and FMT ASD led to an increased colon permeability, evaluated by zonula occludens (ZO1, ZO3) and claudin factors.

These results suggest the effect of parental FMT exposure on shaping offspring behavior inmice and the potential of microbiota in the modulation of ASD.