Gut microbiota is associated with spatial memory and seed-hoarding behavior of South China field mice (Apodemus draco)

Enping Feng; Enping Feng; Xifu Yang; Kunming Zhao; Kunming Zhao; Ying Li; Ying Li; Hanyi Zhu; Hanyi Zhu; Zhenshan Wang; Zhibin Zhang; Zhibin Zhang

doi:10.3389/fmicb.2023.1236359

Frontiers in Microbiology (Sep 2023)

Gut microbiota is associated with spatial memory and seed-hoarding behavior of South China field mice (Apodemus draco)

Enping Feng,
Enping Feng,
Xifu Yang,
Kunming Zhao,
Kunming Zhao,
Ying Li,
Ying Li,
Hanyi Zhu,
Hanyi Zhu,
Zhenshan Wang,
Zhibin Zhang,
Zhibin Zhang

Affiliations

Enping Feng: College of Life Science, Hebei University, Baoding, Hebei Province, China
Enping Feng: State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management on Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
Xifu Yang: State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management on Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
Kunming Zhao: State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management on Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
Kunming Zhao: College of Ecology and Environment, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu, China
Ying Li: State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management on Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
Ying Li: College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
Hanyi Zhu: State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management on Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
Hanyi Zhu: College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
Zhenshan Wang: College of Life Science, Hebei University, Baoding, Hebei Province, China
Zhibin Zhang: State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management on Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
Zhibin Zhang: CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1236359
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 14

Abstract

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BackgroundScatter-hoarding animals store food in multiple locations within their home range and rely on spatial memory for subsequent localization and retrieval. The relationship between memory and scatter-hoarding behavior has been widely demonstrated, but the association of gut microbiota with spatial memory and seed-hoarding behavior of animals remains unclear.MethodsIn this study, by using enclosure behavior tests, memory tests including an object location test (OLT) and a novel object recognition test (NORT), and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) experiment, we evaluated the role of gut microbiota in affecting the memory and seed-hoarding behavior of rodents. According to their scatter-hoarding intensity, South China field mice (Apodemus draco) were divided into scatter-hoarding group (SG) and non-scatter-hoarding group (NG).ResultsWe found that the SG performed better than the NG in the NORT. FMT from SG donor mice altered the NG recipient mice’s gut microbiota structure. Further tests demonstrated FMT from SG donor mice increased memory of NG recipient mice in laboratory tests and seed larder hoarding intensity of NG recipient mice in enclosures.ConclusionOur results suggest gut microbiota could modulate the memory and seed-hoarding behavior of animals.

Published in Frontiers in Microbiology

ISSN: 1664-302X (Online)
Publisher: Frontiers Media S.A.
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Science: Microbiology
Website: http://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology

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