Sleep Deprivation-Induced Rat Medial Prefrontal Cortex DNA oxidation, TNF-α, and IL-1β Upregulation is Mitigated with Probiotics

Lifestyle-induced stress and the abuse of antibiotics are among the causes of mental health problems. This study was designed to determine if supplementation with probiotics (Probio) can significantly mitigate the effect of paradoxical sleep deprivation (PSD) on the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) neurochemistry and redox status. Adult male Wistar rats were randomized into seven groups (n = 5/group) comprising the control, acute PSD; acute Probio, acute PSD+Probio, chronic PSD, chronic Probio, and chronic PSD+Probio groups. The acute and chronic experiments lasted for 3 and 14 days, respectively. Paradoxical sleep deprivation was induced by modified elevated profiles and lasted for 20 hours/day. Probiotics (Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidum) in dispersed distilled water and were given orally. Following euthanasia, the blood sample collected through the left ventricular puncture was processed for melatonin, serotonin, corticosterone, and dopamine assays. The mPFC was harvested, homogenized in ice-cold phosphate buffer, and centrifuged at 3000 rpm, while the supernatant was harvested for assay of oxidative stress markers, interleukin 1β (IL-1 β), tissue necrotic factor alpha, (NTF-α), DNA fragmentation, and zinc. Data analyses show that PSD caused a significant (p<0.05) elevation in corticosterone levels, which was not significantly mitigated by probiotics treatment. In addition, PDS significantly (p<0.05) reduced melatonin levels (21.92±2.73 pg/mL vs 39.46±2.0 pg/mL; the control vs Acute PSD), but the reduction level was significantly (p<0.05) mitigated in the chronic PSD+Probio (25.73±2.71 pg/mL) compared to both acute and chronic PSD (13.85.197 pg/mL) groups. Also, PSD significantly (p<0.05) IL-1β (51.68±4.22 pg/mg in the Acute PSD group vs 21.08±3.78 pg/mg in the control group) but was significantly (p<0.05) reduced with probiotic treatment in the Acute Probio group (37.19±3.62 pg/mg) and Chronic Probio group (39.88±2.97 pg/mg). Treatment with Probio also reduced lipid peroxidation and inflammation in the mPFC. Paradoxical sleep deprivation results in dyshomeostasis of certain brain neurotransmitters and causes elevated lipid peroxidation and loss of zinc. However, treatment with Probio significantly mitigates PSD effects.