Exploring the Role of Gut Microbiota and Metabolomic Changes on Singing in Zebra Finches

The enteric microbiome, comprising the microbial populations residing in an organism's gastrointestinal tract, plays a crucial role in host health, brain development, and cognitive function [1-4]. It influences neural, hormonal, and immune pathways by producing metabolites that affect mental health and behavior. Disruptions in the gut microbiome have been implicated in several neurological and neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD), Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, and major depression [5-11].A growing body of evidence shows that the gut microbiome can affect a range of cognitive tasks such as learning, memory, social learning, and executive function [6,7]. In murine models, depletion of specific bacterial taxa like Bacteroides fragilis has been linked to the development of autistic-like behaviors, which could be reversed through microbiome restoration [12]. In human studies, children with ASD have shown altered gut microbial profiles, including reductions in genera such as Prevotella, Coprococcus, and the family Veillonellaceae [13].Recent research has extended these findings to non-mammalian species. In zebra finches, variation in gut microbiome beta diversity has been associated with performance on reinforcement-based cognitive tasks [14]. Although the gut microbiota in this species is relatively stable over time within individuals, notable differences exist across individuals [15], suggesting a potential link between microbiome composition and behavior.In this study, we investigated whether altering the gut microbiome could influence learned vocalizations in zebra finches, a species well established as a model for vocal learning. To this end, we administered a broad-spectrum antibiotic cocktail [cf. 16] twice daily for 14 days to adult male zebra finches to disrupt their gut microbiota. This treatment led to significant shifts in the abundance of major bacterial phyla, particularly Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes, when compared to untreated control birds. These results suggest that the gut microbiome may play a role in regulating complex vocal behaviors in this avian model system.References[1] M.G. Gareau, Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis and Cognitive Function, in: M. Lyte, J.F. Cryan (Eds.), Springer New York, New York, NY, 2014: pp. 357-371.[2] M.G. Gareau, Int Rev Neurobiol 131 (2016) 227-246.[3] M. Hasan Mohajeri, G. La Fata, R.E. Steinert, P. Weber, Nutr Rev 76 (2018) 481-496.[4] C.N. Heiss, L.E. Olofsson, J Neuroendocrinol 31 (2019).[5] H. Ullah, S. Arbab, Y. Tian, C.Q. Liu, Y. Chen, L. Qijie, M.I.U. Khan, I.U. Hassan, K. Li, Front Neurosci 17 (2023) 1225875.[6] G.L. Davidson, A.C. Cooke, C.N. Johnson, J.L. Quinn, Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 373 (2018).[7] P. Roman, L. Rueda-Ruzafa, D. Cardona, A. Cortes-Rodriguez, Behavioural Pharmacology 29 (2018) 654-663.[8] Y. Wang, L.H. Kasper, 38 (2014) 1-12.[9] E.A. Mayer, D. Padua, K. Tillisch, Bioessays 36 (2014) 933-939.[10] K. Berding, S.M. Donova, Nutr Rev 74 (2016) 723-736.[11] Y. Chen, J. Xu, Y. Chen, Nutrients 13 (2021) 2099.[12] E.Y. Hsiao, S.W. McBride, S. Hsien, G. Sharon, E.R. Hyde, T. McCue, J.A. Codelli, J. Chow, S.E. Reisman, J.F. Petrosino, P.H. Patterson, S.K. Mazmanian, Cell 155 (2013) 1451.[13] D.W. Kang, J.G. Park, Z.E. Ilhan, G. Wallstrom, J. LaBaer, J.B. Adams, R. Krajmalnik-Brown, PLoS One 8 (2013).[14] M.C. Slevin, J.L. Houtz, D.J. Bradshaw, R.C. Anderson, Biol Lett 16 (2020).[15] C.M.W.H. Benskin, G. Rhodes, R.W. Pickup, K. Wilson, I.R. Hartley, Mol Ecol 19 (2010) 5531-5544.[16] A. Zarrinpar, A. Chaix, Z.Z. Xu, M.W. Chang, C.A. Marotz, A. Saghatelian, R. Knight, S. Panda, Nat Commun 9 (2018).