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Pflugers Archiv European Journal of Physiology, vol.477, no.6, pp.797-814, 2025 (SCI-Expanded)
Depression, a prevalent psychiatric disorder, exerts severe and debilitating impacts on an individual's mental and physical well-being, and it is considered a chronic mental illness. Chronic stress plays an important role in the pathophysiology of depression. Lactobacillus plantarum and Streptococcus thermophilus are psychobiotic bacteria and synthesize some neurotransmitters that play a role in the pathogenesis of depression. In this study, we aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects of Bactolac (Lactobacillus plantarum NBIMCC 8767 + Streptococcus thermophilus NBIMCC 8258) on chronic stress-induced depression in rats. Behavioral tests, including the sucrose preference test, elevated plus maze test, forced swim test, and three-chamber sociability test, were employed to assess depressive and anxiety-like behaviors. The expression level of the 5-HT1A, DRD1, ADRA-2A, GABA-A α1, CNR1, NR3C2, NOD1, NLRP3 and MC4R; BDNF levels, glial activity and intestinal permeability were determined in chronic stress-induced depression in rats. In conclusions, chronic stress decreased the expression levels of 5-HT1A, DRD1, ADRA-2A, GABA-A α1, CNR1, NR3C2, NOD1 and BDNF level; increased the expression levels of NLRP3 and MC4R, caused neurodegeneration and glial activity, ultimately led to depressive effects. Bactolac was effective in reducing depressive-like behaviors according to the results of behavioral tests. Bactolac treatment provided high neuronal survival rate increasing BDNF level, prevented the excessive release of pro-inflammatory cytokines by reducing the expression levels of NLRP3 and MC4R, therefore, prevented the excessive activation of the hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis and accordingly, reduced neurodegeneration and glial cell activation in depressed rats. We can suggest that Bactolac supplementation may be beneficial in coping with stress, alleviate the effects of chronic stress and help to protect mental health.