Sex differences in hedonic feeding influenced by the gut microbiome

Male and female Sprague-Dawley rats were evaluated for hedonic feeding using a single-session behavioral economics paradigm. In order to investigate the role of the gut microbiome in hedonic feeding, an antibiotic cocktail was administered to a subgroup of rats and the behavioral economics paradigm was administered again. Before and after antibiotic administration, fecal samples were collected. Next-generation sequencing was conducted to characterize genus-level differences in the fecal microbiome. Fecal samples were also evaluated for short chain fatty acid content. At the end of the study, serum was collected to evaluate short chain fatty acid and bile acid concentrations.