Effects of curcumin on gut microbiota of interval sleep deprivation rats

Abstract

Objective: To study the effects of curcumin (CUR) on gut microbiota of interval sleep deprivation (ISD) rats. Methods: Wistar rats were randomly divided into control group, big platform (BP) control group, model group, and CUR (70 mg/kg) group. Firstly, ISD model rats were established by improved small platform method; Then, open field test and sucrose preference test were utilized to assess the depression-like behavior of the ISD model rats and intervention effects of CUR; Thirdly, gut microbiota DNA samples were extracted from feces, the primers of Escherichia coli, Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, Clostridium perfringens, and Bacteroides were designed by 16S rRNA gene sequence, and the fluprescence qualitation of the bacteria through general PCR was obtained. Results: The results of behavioral experiments showed that open field test scores and sucrose preference rate were significantly lower than those of the BP group (P<0.01), and CUR played a significant improving role. The qRT-PCR data suggested that the relative expression of E. coli, Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, and Bacteroides of ISD model rats were lower than those in normal and big platform groups in ISD model rats, while higher for Clostridium perfringens (P<0.05, 0.01). The amounts of E. coli, Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, and Bacteroides of CUR intervened group were higher than those in ISD model rats, except for Clostridium perfringens (P<0.05, 0.01). Conclusion: The results show that as a stress, ISD not only causes mental disorders in rats, but also leads to the changes of five bacteria strains. CUR could alter the imbalance of gut microbiota, which might be one of the mechanisms of its effects on depression-like behaviors of ISD rats.