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ISME J

Title:		"Coprophagy prevention alters microbiome, metabolism, neurochemistry, and cognitive behavior in a small mammal"
Author(s):		Bo TB; Zhang XY; Kohl KD; Wen J; Tian SJ; Wang DH;
Address:		"State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China. CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China. University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA. State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China. wangdh@ioz.ac.cn. CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China. wangdh@ioz.ac.cn"
Journal Title:		ISME J
Year:		2020
Volume:		20200706
Issue:		10
Page Number:		2625 - 2645
DOI:		10.1038/s41396-020-0711-6
ISSN/ISBN:		1751-7370 (Electronic) 1751-7362 (Print) 1751-7362 (Linking)
Abstract:		"Many small mammals engage in coprophagy, or the behavior of consuming feces, as a means to meet nutritional requirements when feeding on low-quality foods. In addition to nutritional benefits, coprophagy may also help herbivores retain necessary gut microbial diversity and function, which may have downstream physiological effects, such as maintaining energy balance and cognitive function. Here, we used collars to prevent Brandt's vole (Lasiopodomys brandtii) from engaging in coprophagy and monitored changes in microbial community structure, energy metabolism, and cognitive performance. In this research, we found that coprophagy prevention decreased alpha diversity of the gut microbiota, and altered proportions of microbial taxa such as Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, and Oscillospira. Preventing coprophagy resulted in a reduced body mass, and increased food intake. Importantly, coprophagy prevention decreased vole cognitive behavior and altered levels of neurotransmitters in brain. Daily acetate administration was able to reverse some of the coprophagy prevention-induced changes in microbiota composition, metabolism, neurochemistry, and cognitive behavior. These findings identify the functional importance of coprophagy behavior and interactions between the gut microbiota, energy metabolism, and neurological function. Our results suggest that coprophagy contributes to stabilizing the gut microbiota, promoting microbial metabolism, maintaining host energy balance and, consequently, altering cognitive performance"
Keywords:		Animals Cognition Coprophagia *Gastrointestinal Microbiome Mammals *Neurochemistry;
Notes:		"MedlineBo, Ting-Bei Zhang, Xue-Ying Kohl, Kevin D Wen, Jing Tian, Shuang-Jie Wang, De-Hua eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't England 2020/07/08 ISME J. 2020 Oct; 14(10):2625-2645. doi: 10.1038/s41396-020-0711-6. Epub 2020 Jul 6"