Gut-brain axis: role of the gut microbiota in the effects induced by cocaine

Recently, an important role has been assigned to the intestinal microbiota (IM), due to its relation with mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety and autism through the bidirectional gut-brain axis. However, studies addressing the potential role of the IM in the response to drugs of abuse are limited. Some studies in humans have shown that alcohol or cocaine users exhibit IM alterations,, and other animal studies have shown that the chronic treatment with antibiotics potentiated the addictive effects of cocaine (behavioral sensitization and reward associated with context). Recently, we have demonstrated that chronic exposure to smokable cocaine (surrogate of cocaine paste) alters the structure, diversity and function of the rat IM, suggesting that IM could be a target to attenuate the effects of cocaine. In this project, we will evaluate the role of the IM on the changes induced by the chronic treatment of smokable cocaine in rats using a mixture of three Lactobacillaceae strains, with documented impact on the IM-brain axis.