(692.13) The role of SCFAs on microbiota composition in a mouse model of NTG-induced migraine

Poster Board Number: B35

Marika Lanza (University of Messina), Sarah Adriana Scuderi (University of Messina), Alessia Filippone (University of Messina), Giovanna Casili (University of Messina), Michela Campolo (University of Messina), Irene Paterniti (University of Messina), Salvatore Cuzzocrea (University of Messina), Emanuela Esposito (University of Messina)

Background: Based on global burden of headache reports, migraine is a prevalent disorder that affect approximately 15% of the adult population. Generally migraine attacks are sporadic, however, some individuals develop a chronic disease form. To date, several researches have shown that migraine is associated with some gastrointestinal disorders such as Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and celiac disease (CD). However, the mechanisms explaining how the gut and the brain may interact in patients with migraine are not entirely clear. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the role of the short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), such as sodium propionate (SP) and sodium butyrate (SB) as mediators and modulators of host intestinal microbial ecology, in regulating the pathophysiology of migraine in a mouse model induced by nitroglycerine (NTG).

Methods: Mice were orally administered with SB and SP at the dose of 10, 30 and 100 mg/kg, 5 min after NTG intraperitoneal injections. Histological and molecular analysis were performed on the whole brain and small intestine and behavioral tests after 4 h from migraine induction. The composition of the intestinal microbiota was extracted from frozen fecal samples and prepared for sequencing according to the protocol for Illumina Miseq System. However, the expression of inflammatory and oxidative markers were detected by Western blot. Tail flick, hot plate, orofacial formalin and photophobia tests were used to evaluate migraine-like pain and migraine-related light sensitivity.

Results: SP and SB treatment notably reduced histological damage in whole brain and small intestine in NTG-injected mice. Treatments with both SCFAs decreased the markers of inflammation and increased the protective antioxidant enzymes, suggesting an important role of SCFAs to exercise neuromodulatory action. Moreover, SCFAs reduced the headache modifying the intestinal microbiota.

Conclusions: These results provided the evidence that SCFAs exerts a protective effect on central sensitization induced by NTG through a modulation of intestinal microbiota, suggesting a new insight into the potential application of SCFAs as novel supportive therapies for migraine.

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