Chapter 27 Gastrointestinal Microbiota and the Neural System

The resident gut microbiota contributes to various vital processes within the host, including the acquisition of nutrients, the development of lymphoid structures and immune system, and the prevention of pathogenic microorganism outgrowth. The microbiota can interact bidirectionally with the central and the enteric nervous system (CNS and ENS) through neural, endocrine, and immune pathways. Postnatal ENS developments are influenced by the presence of microbiota and the immune system, suggesting an important role of these factors on enteric neural circuit formation and function. A perturbed gut microbial community is likely to affect the interactions between the gut, ENS, and CNS. Such influences may occur early in life and thus affect the differentiation and maturation of ENS lineages, which can lead to impaired development of the neural circuitry.