Abstract
BackgroundThe present study was conducted to explore the maternal gut microbiota transplantation on the lipid and glucose metabolism of newborns in a piglet model. Six hysterectomy-derived germ-free (GF) Bama piglets were reared in three sterile isolators and were orally inoculated with healthy sow fecal suspension on day 7 after birth, which considers as fecal microbiota transplanted (FMT) group. Another six piglets from a natural birth and reared in conventional (CV) environments was regarded as CV group. The FMT piglets were hand-fed Co60-γ-irradiated sterile milk powder, CV piglets were reared by lactating Bama sows and both were weaned at day 21. Then, all piglets were housed separately and fed sterile feed for another 21 days. ResultsWe observed that transplanted with sow fecal microbiota increased the content of lipid in liver (P < 0.05), and upregulated the mRNA abundances of genes related to lipid anabolism and catabolism in liver and longissimus dorsi of newborn piglets (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, the concentrations of adiponectin, GLP-1, and insulin in serum and the activity of CPT-1 in liver were lower in FMT piglets (P < 0.05). Besides, transplanted with sow fecal microbiota enhanced the concentration of glycogen in liver (P < 0.05), while upregulated the mRNA expressions of genes related to glycogenesis and glycogenolysis in liver and longissimus dorsi of newborn piglets (P < 0.05). Moreover, the pathway of AMPK was stimulated by sow fecal microbiota transplantation (P < 0.10). In addition, the microbial structure between FMT and CV piglets was marked differently (P < 0.05). Furthermore, transplanted with sow fecal microbiota markedly activated the metabolic pathway of bile secretion in newborn piglets (P < 0.05). ConclusionsCollectively, healthy sow gut microbiota transplanted to newborn germ-free piglets might undermine the homeostasis of glucose and lipid metabolism, and increased the content of lipid, and decreased the concentration of glycogen in liver. It is concluded that transplanted with maternal gut microbiota might induce diseases related to glucose and lipid metabolism in newborns.