The structural alteration of gut microbiota in low-birth-weight mice undergoing accelerated postnatal growth

Sci Rep. 2016 Jun 9:6:27780. doi: 10.1038/srep27780.

Abstract

The transient disruption of gut microbiota in infancy by antibiotics causes adult adiposity in mice. Accelerated postnatal growth (A) leads to a higher risk of adult metabolic syndrome in low birth-weight (LB) humans than in normal birth-weight (NB) individuals, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Here, we set up an experiment using LB + A mice, NB + A mice, and control mice with NB and normal postnatal growth. At 24 weeks of age (adulthood), while NB + A animals had a normal body fat content and glucose tolerance compared with controls, LB + A mice exhibited excessive adiposity and glucose intolerance. In infancy, more fecal bacteria implicated in obesity were increased in LB + A pups than in NB + A pups, including Desulfovibrionaceae, Enterorhabdus, and Barnesiella. One bacterium from the Lactobacillus genus, which has been implicated in prevention of adult adiposity, was enhanced only in NB + A pups. Besides, LB + A pups, but not NB + A pups, showed disrupted gut microbiota fermentation activity. After weaning, the fecal microbiota composition of LB + A mice, but not that of NB + A animals, became similar to that of controls by 24 weeks. In infancy, LB + A mice have a more dysbiotic gut microbiome compared to NB + A mice, which might increase their risk of adult metabolic syndrome.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn
  • Bacteria / classification*
  • Bacteria / drug effects
  • Bacteria / genetics
  • Birth Weight / drug effects*
  • DNA, Bacterial / genetics
  • DNA, Ribosomal / genetics
  • Diet, High-Fat / adverse effects*
  • Dysbiosis / chemically induced*
  • Feces / microbiology
  • Gastrointestinal Microbiome / drug effects
  • Mice
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / genetics
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA

Substances

  • DNA, Bacterial
  • DNA, Ribosomal
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S