Assessment of the therapeutic potential of probiotics against carbon quantum dots-induced neurotoxicity in common carp (Cyprinus carpio)

Carbon quantum dots (CQDs) have received increasing attention in recent years for their potential toxicity. However, little is known about their neurobehavioral toxicity. This study aimed to investigate the potential mechanisms by which probiotics reduce CQDs neurotoxicity from a brain-gut axis perspective by exposing carp to CQDs and/or probiotics for five weeks. The results showed that CQDs accumulation in the brain reduces the expression of blood-brain-barrier (BBB) related genes in carp, leading to brain damage. In addition, CQDs impaired motor behavior and inhibited acetylcholinesterase activity. These abnormalities were alleviated by probiotic supplementation. Microbiomic analysis showed that probiotics improved the imbalance of intestinal flora caused by CQDs and increased the abundance of Firmicutes. Serum metabolomic analysis showed that probiotic supplementation restored the abnormal metabolic levels associated with neurological, inflammatory, and apoptotic cell death caused by CQDs. Overall, probiotic supplementation improved the CQDs-induced changes in brain damage, gut microbiology, and systemic metabolism. These results suggests that CQDs may cause neurotoxicity via the brain-gut microbial axis.