The present work aimed to determine the antagonistic effect of probiotic-fermented soy against oral pathogens. Indigenous oral probiotics (Streptococcus salivarius Taylor’s Univer- sity Collection Centre (TUCC) 1251, S. salivarius TUCC 1253, S. salivarius TUCC 1254, S. salivarius TUCC 1255, and S. orisratti TUCC 1253) were incorporated into soy fermentation at 37°C for 24 h. Growth characteristics, β-glucosidase activity, and total isoflavones content of Streptococcus strains following soy fermentation were analysed. Antimicrobial test of Streptococcus-fermented soy was carried out against oral pathogens Enterococcus faecalis American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) 700802, Streptococcus pyogenes ATCC 19615, and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923. Streptococcus strains showed a significant increase in growth following soy fermentation. S. salivarius TUCC 1253-fermented soy showed signif- icantly higher extracellular β-glucosidase activity and amount of aglycones. S. salivarius TUCC 1253-fermented soy showed antimicrobial effect against all oral tested pathogens in both aerobic and anaerobic conditions. These results showed that S. salivarius TUCC 1253-fermented soy could potentially be used as a preventive action or alternative treatment for oral infections.
Postnatal treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) has been found to affect brain development and the regulation of reproduction in rodent models. The normal masculinization process in the brain requires a transient decrease in serotonin (5-HT) levels in the brain during the second postnatal week. Strict regulation of androgen receptor (AR) and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) expression is important to control male reproductive activity. Therefore, this study was designed to examine the effects of a potent SSRI (citalopram) on male sexual behavior and expression levels of AR and GnRH in adult male mice receiving either vehicle or citalopram (10mg/kg) daily during postnatal days 8-21. The citalopram-treated male mice showed altered sexual behavior, specifically a significant reduction in the number of intromissions preceding ejaculation compared with the vehicle-treated mice. The citalopram-treated male mice displayed elevated anxiety-like behavior in an open field test and lower locomotor activity in their home cage during the subjective night. Although there was no change in GnRH and AR mRNA levels in the preoptic area (POA), quantified by real-time polymerase chain reaction, immunostained AR cell numbers in the medial POA were decreased in the citalopram-treated male mice. These results suggest that the early-life inhibition of 5-HT transporters alters the regulation of AR expression in the medial POA, likely causing decreased sexual behavior and altered home cage activity in the subjective night.