To establish a less stressful fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) method for murine models, specifically aimed at investigating the gut microbiome's impact on stress responses.
Key Findings:
Plasma corticosterone levels were significantly lower in mice receiving frozen aliquots compared to those receiving oral gavage.
Microbial signatures in recipient mice were more similar to donors after FMT via frozen aliquots, sustained for up to six weeks.
Interpretation:
The new FMT method reduces stress associated with traditional delivery methods, potentially leading to more accurate assessments of the gut microbiome's effects on stress-related outcomes.
Limitations:
The study was conducted in a controlled laboratory setting, which may not fully replicate natural conditions, potentially affecting the ecological validity of the findings.
Only male C57Bl/6J mice were used, limiting the generalizability of findings to other strains or sexes, which may respond differently to FMT.
Conclusion:
This study presents an innovative FMT technique that minimizes stress in murine models, enhancing the validity of research on the gut microbiome's role in stress responses, and suggests future studies should adopt this method for more accurate assessments.
by Monica A. Tschang, Ronin Deo-Campo Vuong, Baylee Eilers, Denise Chac, Adam Waalkes, Kelsi Penewit, Alyssa Easton, Bryan Schuessler, Renata Daniels, Ana A. Weil, Stephen J. Salipante, Sean M. Gibbons, Abigail G. Schindler
