Objective: To evaluate the potential protective effects of Blautia argi on a 6-Hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced rat model of Parkinson’s disease (PD).

Background: PD is a common neurodegenerative disease characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra and motor impairments. The association between gut microbiota dysfunction and PD has been well described. Recent research with a large sample size has highlighted that the abundance of Blautia argi, a specific anaerobic strain of Blautia genus with an anti-inflammatory effect, was significantly reduced in PD patients [1, 2]. However, whether Blautia argi is implicated in the development of PD remains unknown.

Method: Six-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were used in this study. The PD model was established by injecting 6-OHDA (20 μg) into the right corpus striatum. The rats were divided into three groups: a control group, a PD model group, and a PD model treated with Blautia argi (10⁸CFU/ml). After oral administration of Blautia argi for 10 weeks (twice/week), the motor function of the PD rat model was assessed using behavior tests, including the cylinder test, open field test, and elevated body swing test. Brain tissues were collected for immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry to assess dopaminergic neuron integrity.

Results: Blautia argi treatment improved the motor function compared to the PD model group, as evidenced by enhanced performance in the cylinder test and open field test. Immunohistochemistry analysis for anti-tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) showed that Blautia argi significantly protect the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra of PD rats. In addition, immunofluorescence for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) showed that oral administration of Blautia argi reduced astrocyte proliferation in the substantia nigra, indicating decreased glial inflammation in the brain.

Conclusion: Blautia argi administration ameliorated motor impairments and exerted neuroprotective effects in a 6-OHDA-induced rat model of PD. Further research is warranted to explore the underlying mechanisms and potential clinical applications of this treatment.

References: 1. Liu X, Mao B, Gu J, Wu J, Cui S, Wang G, Zhao J, Zhang H, Chen W: Blautia-a new functional genus with potential probiotic properties? Gut Microbes 2021, 13(1):1-21.
2. Guo X, Tang P, Hou C, Chong L, Zhang X, Liu P, Chen L, Liu Y, Zhang L, Li R: Integrated Microbiome and Host Transcriptome Profiles Link Parkinson’s Disease to Blautia Genus: Evidence From Feces, Blood, and Brain. Front Microbiol 2022, 13:875101.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/blautia-argi-ameliorates-the-motor-impairment-of-6-hydroxydopamine-hydrochloride-induced-parkinsons-disease-rat-model/