Abstract
Study question
From when do abnormality in gut microbiome and phenotypes of PCOS appear during the process of growth?
Summary answer
Reproductive phenotypes of PCOS appear from 6 weeks and metabolic phenotypes from 12 weeks onward. Alteration in gut microbiome appears as early as 4 weeks.
What is known already
The etiology of PCOS remains largely unknown, however PCOS is considered as a complex multigenic disorder with strong epigenetic and environmental influence. Previous studies have suggested that fetal over-exposure to androgens could be the main factor of the development of PCOS after birth. On the other hands, recent studies on both human and PCOS rodent models have demonstrated the association between PCOS and alteration of gut microbiome in adulthood. Furthermore, it was recently reported that gut microbiome in obese adolescent with PCOS is different from obese adolescent without PCOS.
Study design, size, duration
A rodent PCOS model induced by prenatal dehydroepiandrosterone (DHT) exposure was applied to this study. Phenotypes and gut microbiome were compared between PCOS model mice (n = 12/group) and control mice (n = 10/group) at each stage of growth; 4 weeks (prepuberty), 6 weeks (puberty), 8 weeks (adolescent), 12 weeks (young adult), and 16 weeks (adult). The determinants for PCOS phenotypes are onset of puberty, estrous cycle, morphology of ovaries, serum testosterone level, body weight, and insulin resistance.
Participants/materials, setting, methods
Pregnant dams were subcutaneously injected on days of 16, 17, and 18 of gestation with either sesame oil for control groups or sesame oil containing 250µg of DHT for prenatal DHT groups. The evaluation of PCOS phenotypes and gut microbiome in female offspring were performed at each stage of growth. For examination of gut microbiota, next generation sequencing and bioinformatics analysis of 16S rRNA genes were performed on DNA extracted from mouse fecal samples.
Main results and the role of chance
Prenatal DHT mice exhibited delayed puberty onset, disrupted estrous cycle, and significantly increased testosterone levels from 6 weeks onward. Significantly increased atretic antral follicles were observed in prenatal DHT mice at 6, 12, and 16 weeks. Prenatal DHT mice showed significantly decreased body weight at 4, 6, 8 weeks and increased body weight from 12 weeks onward. As for gut microbiome, alpha-diversity was significantly different between control and prenatal DHT mice from 8 weeks onward and beta-diversity was significantly different at 6 and 8 weeks. Altered composition of gut microbiota was observed as early as 4 weeks. At phylum level, Firmicutes are significantly increased in prenatal DHT mice at 4 and 8 weeks and decreased at 16 weeks. Actinobacteria phylum showed significant decrease at 6 and 8 weeks in prenatal DHT mice. At genus level, relative abundance of several bacterial taxa significantly differed between control and prenatal DHT mice; some taxa, such as Allobaculum, Adlercreutzia, Bilophila, Clostridium, Gemella, Gemmiger, Roseburia, Ruminococcus, Staphylococcus, and Sutterella, exhibited constant increase or decrease in prenatal DHT mice during the process of growth. Interestingly, Roseburia was never detected in prenatal DHT mice, while approximately half of control mice harbored Roseburia at 12 and 16 weeks.
Limitations, reasons for caution
It is not clearly determined whether alteration in gut microbiome is cause or result of PCOS development, although the changes in gut microbiome seemed to precede the appearance of typical PCOS phenotypes in the present study. Mouse model does not completely recapitulate human PCOS.
Wider implications of the findings: Our findings suggest that prenatal androgen exposure causes alteration of gut microbiome from pre-puberty onward, even before PCOS phenotypes become apparent. Intervention for girls at risk of PCOS with pre/pro-biotics may prevent them from developing PCOS in future.
Trial registration number
Not applicable
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