The interactions between bacteria and their products with the intestinal tissue are important
for maintaining a healthy and balanced system. Alterations in gut bacteria communities have
been associated with various human pathologies. The investigators have found that mice
treated with short and long-term antibiotics exhibit a transient yet profound loss of neurons
in the more superficial submucosal and deeper muscularis plexi in the intestine accompanied
by slow motility. Glia cells also depend on microbiota for their maintenance. In humans,
antibiotic use has been associated with disorders of gut-brain interactions (DGBI) such as
irritable bowel syndrome however whether there are changes in the enteric neurons and glia
cells remain unknown. Therefore, the investigators propose to further characterize the
neurons and glia populations in the human distal colon after a single antibiotic course. This
study will reveal glia and neuronal subtypes that are susceptible to changes in the bacteria
populations and depend on microbial products for their maintenance. These findings will guide
future DGBI studies to ascertain the physiological effects that such loss has on intestinal
healthy balance.