News Release

How gut bacteria influence the effects of cocaine in mice

Peer-Reviewed Publication

Cell Press

Cocaine exposure and gut microbiota

image: This photo represents Cuesta et al.'s demonstration that cocaine exposure increases norepinephrine in the gut facilitating γ-Proteobacteria colonization. This gut microbiota shift toward γ-Proteobacteria leads to a depletion of glycine from the host, which, in turn, facilitates cocaine-induced addiction-like behaviors in mice. view more 

Credit: Florencia Cerchiara www.instagram.com/florecer.creative

Common gut bacteria can enhance the effects of cocaine in mice, researchers report November 1 in the journal Cell Host & Microbe. Their study demonstrates how cocaine use supports the growth of the bacteria, which in turn eat up a chemical, glycine, that contributes to normal brain function. As levels of glycine become depleted, mice exhibit a higher response to the drug with behavior abnormalities, such as significantly increasing drug-induced locomotion and seeking behaviors. 

Additionally, by supplementing glycine back systemically or using a genetically modified bacteria that cannot use glycine, the response of the mice to cocaine falls back to normal levels, demonstrating that this amino acid can act as an addiction-like behavior mediator in animal models.

“I was interested in the gut-brain axis, and I found it very new and exciting,” says first author Santiago Cuesta (@_SantiagoCuesta) a neuroscientist at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. 

Cuesta and colleagues found that when cocaine enters the gut of the mice, it triggers the activation of the QseC protein that aids in the growth of γ-proteobacteria, such as E. coli. These bacteria, fueled by glycine, outcompete the normal gut bacteria that already exist in our digestive tracks, taking up most of the space and resources. 

“The gut bacteria are consuming all of the glycine and the levels are decreasing systemically and in the brain,” says senior author Vanessa Sperandio (@VanessaSperand2), a microbiologist from the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. “It seems changing glycine overall is impacting the glutamatergic synapses that make the animals more prone to develop addiction.”  

“Usually, for neuroscience behaviors, people are not thinking about controlling the microbiota, and microbiota studies usually don't measure behaviors, but here we show they’re connected” says Cuesta. “Our microbiome can actually modulate psychiatric or brain-related behaviors.” 

“I think the bridging of these communities is what's going to move the field forward, advancing beyond correlations towards causations for the different types of psychiatric disorders,” says Sperandio. 

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Financial support was provided by the National Institutes of Health. 

Cell Host & Microbe, Cuesta et al., “Gut colonization by Proteobacteria alters host metabolism and modulates cocaine neurobehavioral responses” https://www.cell.com/cell-host-microbe/fulltext/S1931-3128(22)00470-X

Cell Host & Microbe (@cellhostmicrobe), published by Cell Press, is a monthly journal that publishes novel findings and translational studies related to microbes (which include bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses). The unifying theme is the integrated study of microbes in conjunction and communication with each other, their host, and the cellular environment they inhabit. Visit: http://www.cell.com/cell-host-microbe. To receive Cell Press media alerts, contact press@cell.com


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