Journal: Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences: CMLS

Article Title: Melatonin ameliorates autistic-like behaviors by restoring gut microbiota-derived tryptophan metabolites

doi: 10.1007/s00018-026-06163-8

Figure Lengend Snippet: Early melatonin treatment ameliorates social and cognitive deficits in VPA-induced ASD rats. ( A ) Schematic of three-chamber social interaction. ( B ) Representative heatmaps depicting social patterns (E: empty cage; S1: stranger 1). ( C ) Sniffing time towards S1, comparative time allocation between S1 and empty chamber, and chamber time-derived preference index. ( D ) Representative heatmaps depicting social novelty patterns (S1: stranger 1; S2: stranger 2). ( E ) Sniffing time allocation between S1 and S2, chamber occupancy duration comparisons, and dual-modality preference index. ( F ) Behavioral protocols for novel object recognition (NOR). ( G ) Heatmaps delineating exploration patterns (“F”: familiar columnar object; “N”: novel cubic object). ( H ) Discrimination time between familiar and novel objects, preference indices (N vs. F), and total ambulatory distance traversed. ( I ) Schematic of the open field test (OFT) and (J) Representative movement tracks. ( K ) Locomotor patterns, including total distance traversed, center zone duration, and central compartment entries. ( L ) Experimental protocols for Morris water maze. ( M ) Heatmaps delineating the 4-day acquisition phase, complemented by escape latency dynamics evolution. ( N ) Trajectory heatmap illustrating probe trial patterns on day 6, with target quadrant duration and crossings. Biological replication was demonstrated through 12 independent samples per experimental cohort, and data are presented as mean ± standard error. * P < 0.05, ** P < 0.01, *** P < 0.001. CON, control; VPA, sodium valproate; MTV, melatonin + VPA

Article Snippet: Taxon-resolved heatmaps (Fig. E) delineated VPA-associated blooms of Erysipelotrichia ( log2FC = + 2.03, vs. CON, FDR = 0.032) and Clostridia ( log2FC = + 2.01, vs. CON, FDR = 0.028), alongside depletion of Ruminococcaceae ( log2FC = − 4.13, vs. CON, FDR < 0.001), Bacteroides ( log2FC = − 1.50, vs. CON, FDR = 0.028), Lachnospiraceae ( log2FC = − 1.53, vs. CON, FDR = 0.012), and Butyricimonas ( log2FC = − 1.32, vs. CON, FDR = 0.011), all counteracted by melatonin (e.g., Clostridia log2FC = -1.39, Ruminococcaceae log2FC = + 1.14, Bacteroides log2FC = + 1.22).

Techniques: Derivative Assay, Control