(P27-021-23) Fetal Cognitive Neurodevelopment by the Maternal Gut Microbiome Remodeling by β-Glucan Supplementation in Mice

Objectives: Maternal diet plays a beneficial role in offspring health, including the neurodevelopment that can have lasting effects on cognitive function and later life behavior. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) such as butyrate, propionate, and acetate are of particular interest, as they are direct end-products of microbial fermentation of complex carbohydrates and are thought to be critical players in neurodevelopmental processes, such as the early maturation of microglia. As solubilized β-glucan has recently sparked interest due to its bioactive properties, such as immune modulation and improving gut microbiome profiles as a prebiotic substrate, we tested whether a β-glucan supplementation to the gestation period of the pregnant mice can improve the cognitive function of the offspring.

Methods: Female C57BL/J mice were orally supplemented with soluble oat β-glucan (OBG) or carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) via drinking water at either 50 or 200 mg/kg body weight (BW) during breeding. 4-week and 8-week-old pups were tested for changes in microglial function, serum inflammatory cytokines, and gut microbiome changes. 8-week old pups also underwent cognitive function assessment using a passive avoidance test, Morris water maze test, and Y-maze spontaneous alternation test.

Results: In dams, body weight increase in the final week of gestation was higher in groups fed soluble β-glucan as compared to those fed exclusively or co-supplemented with carboxymethyl cellulose. Interestingly, these changes did not seem to affect the average number of pups per litter. High OBG-supplemented 8-week-old pups exhibited the highest level of long-term memory and cognition as compared to high CMC and both low OBG and CMC groups. Furthermore, caecal weight was increased in offspring of mice fed high CMC compared to low fiber diets and high OBG diets but had lower levels of SCFAs. There are significant differences in the cognitive function between the different diets indicating a difference in mechanisms in which carboxymethyl cellulose and oat β-glucan affect neurodevelopment.

Conclusions: These results highlight supplementation of solubilized oat β-glucan during gestation has a high potential in enhancing the cognitive function of offspring in later life.

Funding Sources: This research was funded by a research grant from the National Research Foundation of Korea.