Stress reactions are physiological responses to real or perceived threats to homeostasis, designed to mobilize resources that help the organism withstand aversive stimuli. However, the activation of such powerful mechanisms can lead to negative consequences if the stress response is triggered too frequently or inadequately managed. Individual responses to stress vary based on several factors, including sex; research indicates that females exhibit a stronger response from the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis compared to males. Additionally, the gut microbiome is known to play a significant role in modulating HPA axis responses. In this project, we compared the responses to acute restraint stress in germ-free and conventionally raised mice across both sexes. Our findings demonstrate that both sex and microbiota significantly influence the HPA axis response to acute stress, underscoring the importance of including both sexes in experimental designs.

IPHYS contact person: Lýdie Plecitá, lydie.plecita@fgu.cas.cz