基于大脑转录组学和肠道菌群探讨廖氏化风丹改善小鼠焦虑的作用及其机制OA

Objective This study aimed to examine the anxiolytic effects of Hua-Feng-Dan recipes in comparison to Diazepam,and used RNA-seq and 16S rRNA-seq to explore the molecular mechanisms.Methods Mice were given Original,Reduced,and Nonfermented Hua-Feng-Dan via feed at the clinical dose(0.5 g/kg for 7 days)and Diazepam was used as positive control.The Open Field test and Elevated Plus Maze were used to access anx-iolytic effects.At the end of experiments,the brain and colon content were collected for RNA-seq and 16S rRNA-seq,followed by bioinformatics and qPCR verification.Results Hua-Feng-Dan recipes were effective in producing anxiolytic effects,with original the best and half of reduced(0.25 g/kg)ineffective.PCA revealed brain gene expression patterns were distinct from Control,and approximate 200 DEGs under FDR＜0.01 were evident after treatments.qPCR verified 8 of selected genes,the original and reduced Hua-Feng-Dan produced similar effects as Diazepam,while nonfermented and half of reduced were less effective.In gut microbiota analy-sis,Diazepam increased Simpson,tended to decrease Chao and Shannon indexes,while Hua-Feng-Dan recipes were ineffective.qPCR verified 4 selected microbiome,Diazepam increased ASV203,decreased ASV230,ASV112 and ASV154.Original,reduced,and nonfermented Hua-Feng-Dan produced similar effects,while half of reduced was ineffective.Conclusion Hua-Feng-Dan recipes were effective in producing anxiolytic effects in normal mice,with brain gene expression and gut microbiota modulation in a fashion similar to Diazepam,which could be one of mechanisms for Hua-Feng-Dan to exert anti-epilepsy effects.