Hydrogen peroxide in breast milk is crucial for gut microbiota formation and myelin development in neonatal mice

Abstract

Early life environment influences mammalian brain development, a growing area of research within the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease framework, necessitating a deeper understanding of early life factors on children’s brain development. This study introduces a mouse model, 𝘓𝘈𝘖1 knockout mice, to investigate the relationship between breast milk, the gut microbiome, and brain development. The results reveal that breast milk‘s reactive oxygen species (ROS) are vital in shaping the neonatal gut microbiota. Decreased hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) levels in milk disrupt the gut microbiome and lead to abnormal metabolite production, including D-glucaric acid. This metabolite inhibits hippocampal myelin formation during infancy, potentially contributing to behavioral abnormalities observed in adulthood. These findings suggest that H₂O₂ in breast milk is crucial for normal gut microbiota formation and brain development, with implications for understanding and potentially treating neurodevelopmental disorders in humans.