Intestinal microflora can affect human behavior

Scientists from Salk Institute have found a particular strain of E. coli in rodents that makes mothers to be very careless about their offspring. The scientists say that these data are also relevant for people because the connection between microflora and the brain has been proven more than once.

The latest study has established that rodents that had a strain of E. coli in their microflora, known as O16: H48 MG1655, raised their offspring with growth retardation. The detailed analysis has revealed that the mice remained undernourished. At the same time, breast milk had normal composition and volume. It's all about the behavior of mothers; they poorly cared their offspring and neglected their needs. The problem was solved when the little ones received the growth factor IGF-1 or were taken from their mothers and the foster mothers began to raise them.

Source: Holos UA