Implication of gut microbiota in the physiology of rats intermittently exposed to cold and hypobaric hypoxia

PLoS One. 2020 Nov 3;15(11):e0240686. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0240686. eCollection 2020.

Abstract

This study examines the influence of intermittent exposure to cold, hypobaric hypoxia, and their combination, in gut microbiota and their metabolites in vivo, and explores their effects on the physiology of the host. Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to cold (4°C), hypobaric hypoxia (462 torr), or both simultaneously, 4 h/day for 21 days. Biometrical and hematological parameters were monitored. Gut bacterial subgroups were evaluated by qPCR and short-chain fatty acids were determined by gas chromatography in caecum and feces. Cold increased brown adipose tissue, Clostridiales subpopulation and the concentration of butyric and isovaleric acids in caecum. Hypobaric hypoxia increased hemoglobin, red and white cell counts and Enterobacteriales, and reduced body and adipose tissues weights and Lactobacilliales. Cold plus hypobaric hypoxia counteracted the hypoxia-induced weight loss as well as the increase in white blood cells, while reducing the Bacteroidetes:Firmicutes ratio and normalizing the populations of Enterobacteriales and Lactobacilliales. In conclusion, intermittent cold and hypobaric hypoxia exposures by themselves modified some of the main physiological variables in vivo, while their combination kept the rats nearer to their basal status. The reduction of the Bacteroidetes:Firmicutes ratio and balanced populations of Enterobacteriales and Lactobacilliales in the gut may contribute to this effect.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adipose Tissue, Brown / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Bacteria / classification*
  • Bacteria / genetics
  • Bacteria / isolation & purification
  • Cecum / chemistry
  • Chromatography, Gas
  • Cold Temperature
  • Fatty Acids, Volatile / analysis*
  • Feces / chemistry
  • Gastrointestinal Microbiome
  • Hypoxia / metabolism*
  • Male
  • Phylogeny
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Substances

  • Fatty Acids, Volatile

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness (DEP2013-48334-C2-1-P, AGL2017-83599-R and graduate fellowship BES2014-068592 to M.H.) and the University of Barcelona (graduate fellowship APIF 2016-2017 to G.S.).