Post-weaning A1/A2 b-casein milk intake modulates depressive-like behavior, brain mopioid receptors, and the metabolome of rats

Osman, A., Zuffa, S., Walton, G. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5426-5635, Fagbodun, E., Zanos, P., Georgiou, P., Kitchen, I., Swann, J. and Bailey, A. (2021) Post-weaning A1/A2 b-casein milk intake modulates depressive-like behavior, brain mopioid receptors, and the metabolome of rats. iScience, 24 (9). ISSN 2589-0042 doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.103048

Abstract/Summary

The postnatal period is critical for brain and behavioral development and is sensitive to environmental stimuli, such as nutrition. Prevention of weaning from maternal milk was previously shown to cause depressive-like behavior in rats. Additionally, loss of dietary casein was found to act as a developmental trigger for a population of brain opioid receptors. Here, we explore the effect of exposure to milk containing A1 and A2 β-casein beyond weaning. A1 but not A2 β-casein milk significantly increased stress-induced immobility in rats, concomitant with an increased abundance of Clostridium histolyticum bacterial group in the caecum and colon of A1 β-casein fed animals, brain region-specific alterations of μ-opioid and oxytocin receptors, and modifications in urinary biochemical profiles. Moreover, urinary gut microbial metabolites strongly correlated with altered brain metabolites. These findings suggest that consumption of milk containing A1 β-casein beyond weaning age may affect mood via a possible gut-brain axis mechanism.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/101830
Identification Number/DOI	10.1016/j.isci.2021.103048
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Life Sciences > School of Chemistry, Food and Pharmacy > Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences > Food Microbial Sciences Research Group
Publisher	Cell Press
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