Thread by @ThaissLab

We are excited to share our new work @Nature, led by @Lenka_Dohnal, uncovering a gut-brain pathway that regulates the motivation for #exercise. (1/7)

nature.com/articles/s4158…

We assessed the exercise capacity of a large cohort of deeply-profiled genetically-diverse mice and identified the gut #microbiome as an important contributor to exercise performance. (2/7)

Using exercise experiments in germ-free mice, we identified several bacterial species that can drive physical activity. (3/7)

How does the microbiome influence exercise performance? We teamed up with Nick Betley’s group to discover that the microbiome is a critical regulator of the exercise-induced surge in #dopamine, a major driver of the motivation for exercise. (4/7)

How does information from the gut microbiome reach the brain during exercise? We identified a critical role for TRPV1+ sensory neurons. Capsaicin stimulation of these neurons can restore dopamine levels and exercise performance in the absence of the microbiome. (5/7)

How does the microbiome regulate the activity of afferent neurons? Together with @Helfrich_lab and @PSUmetabolomics, we screened for metabolite regulators of sensory neurons and found that fatty acid amides can enhance gut-brain signaling and exercise performance. (6/7)

The discovery of a pathway controlling the motivation for exercise from the gut might provide us with a powerful tool in the fight against diseases associated with a sedentary lifestyle. Does gut-brain signaling influence exercise performance in humans? Stay tuned! (7/7)

Thanks to all our collaborators @nitaidean @sellmyerlab @FitzGerald__Lab @PSUmetabolomics @BaurLab @AmberAlhadeff @Helfrich_lab @MaayanLevy_Lab, the Betley lab & many others not on Twitter!

And thanks to @GulistanAgirman and @pipethero for a great News and Views article on our study!

nature.com/articles/d4158…

Here is an open link to the PDF:
rdcu.be/c1Cfh