Effect of Antibiotics on Enteric Neurons and Glia

The interactions between bacteria and their products with the intestinal tissue are important for maintaining a healthy and balanced system. Alterations in gut bacteria communities have been associated with various human pathologies. The investigators have found that mice treated with short and long-term antibiotics exhibit a transient yet profound loss of neurons in the more superficial submucosal and deeper muscularis plexi in the intestine accompanied by slow motility. Glia cells also depend on microbiota for their maintenance. In humans, antibiotic use has been associated with disorders of gut-brain interactions (DGBI) such as irritable bowel syndrome however whether there are changes in the enteric neurons and glia cells remain unknown. Therefore, the investigators propose to further characterize the neurons and glia populations in the human distal colon after a single antibiotic course. This study will reveal glia and neuronal subtypes that are susceptible to changes in the bacteria populations and depend on microbial products for their maintenance. These findings will guide future DGBI studies to ascertain the physiological effects that such loss has on intestinal healthy balance.