«If testosterone drives the microbial
composition of the gut, a compelling next step would be to determine if treatment of PCOS with testosterone blockers or
oral contraceptives results in the recovery of the gut
microbiome,» said Thackray.
The delicate balance between the human
microbiome and the development of psychopathologies is particularly interesting given the ease with which the
microbiome can be altered by external factors, such as diet, 23 exposure to antimicrobials24, 25 or disrupted sleep patterns.26 For example, a link between antibiotic exposure and altered brain function is well evidenced by the psychiatric side - effects of antibiotics, which range from anxiety and panic to major depression, psychosis and delirium.1 A recent large population study reported that treatment with a single antibiotic course was associated with an increased risk for depression and anxiety, rising with multiple exposures.27 Bercik et al. 28 showed that
oral administration of non-absorbable antimicrobials transiently altered the
composition of the gut microbiota in adult mice and increased exploratory behaviour and hippocampal expression of brain - derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), while intraperitoneal administration had no effect on behaviour.