Previous studies have shown that climatic factors, including humidity and temperature, can increase negative emotions such as fatigue syndrome, depression and anxiety. A new study using a conditioned housing mouse model shows that humidity and heat cause anxiety-like disorder in mice via alterations of the gut microbiome. Compared with mice housed in an ordinary environment (NC mice, 22–24°C and 45–55% humidity), male mice housed in a humid heat environment (HHE mice, 31–33°C and 91–95% humidity) for 45 days spent less time crossing the central area in the open field test and less time in the open arms of the elevated plus maze, indicating signs of anxiety-like behavior. Microbiome analysis revealed that HHE impaired the gut microbiota, with a notable decrease in Lactobacillus murinus. Inflammatory factors were also increased in the blood of HHE mice, which influenced the inflammatory state in the brain. Most of these abnormalities were reversed by Lactobacillus murinus administration, highlighting probiotic administration as a potential strategy for the treatment of anxiety disorders caused by long-term exposure to HHE.

Original reference: Weng, H. et al. Nat. Commun. 15, 5697 (2024)

此前的研究表明，湿度和温度等气候因素会增加疲劳综合症、抑郁和焦虑等负面情绪。一项使用条件饲养小鼠模型的新研究表明，湿度和热量通过改变肠道微生物组而导致小鼠出现焦虑样障碍。与饲养在普通环境中的小鼠（NC小鼠，22-24°C和45-55%湿度）相比，雄性小鼠饲养在湿热环境（HHE小鼠，31-33°C和91-95%湿度）中45 天的人在旷场测试中穿过中心区域的时间较少，在高架十字迷宫开放臂中的时间也较少，这表明有类似焦虑行为的迹象。微生物组分析显示，HHE 损害了肠道微生物群，鼠乳杆菌显着减少。 HHE小鼠血液中的炎症因子也增加，从而影响大脑的炎症状态。大多数这些异常现象可通过鼠乳杆菌给药逆转，这凸显了益生菌给药是治疗长期接触 HHE 引起的焦虑症的潜在策略。

原文参考： Weng, H. et al .夜晚。交流。 15 , 5697 (2024)