Dataset Information

Heat Stress Alters the Intestinal Microbiota and Metabolomic Profiles in Mice.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Heat stress has negative effects on the intestinal health of humans and animals. However, the impact of heat stress on intestinal microbial and metabolic changes remains elusive. Here, we investigated the cecal microbial and metabolic profiles in mice in response to heat stress.

Methods

The mouse heat stress model was constructed by simulating a high-temperature environment. Twenty mice were randomly assigned to two groups, the control group (CON, 25°C) and the heat treatment group (HS, 40°C from 13:00 to 15:00 every day for 7 days). Serum and cecal contents were collected from the mice for serum biochemical analysis, 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing, and non-targeted metabolomics.

Results

Both core body temperature and water intake were significantly increased in the HS group. Serum biochemical indicators were also affected, including significantly increased triglyceride and decreased low-density lipoprotein in the heat stress group. The composition and structure of intestinal microbiota were remarkably altered in the HS group. At the species level, the relative abundance of Candidatus Arthromitus sp. SFB-mouse-Japan and Lactobacillus murinus significantly reduced, while that of Lachnospiraceae bacterium 3-1 obviously increased after HS. Metabolomic analysis of the cecal contents clearly distinguished metabolite changes between the groups. The significantly different metabolites identified were mainly involved in the fatty acid synthesis, purine metabolism, fatty acid metabolism, cyanoamino acid metabolism, glyceride metabolism, and plasmalogen synthesis.

Conclusion

In summary, high temperature disrupted the homeostatic balance of the intestinal microbiota in mice and also induced significant alterations in intestinal metabolites. This study provides a basis for treating intestinal disorders caused by elevated temperature in humans and animals and can further formulate nutritional countermeasures to reduce heat stress-induced damage.

SUBMITTER: Wen C

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8430895 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:The aim of the study is to identify the candidate biomarkers of heat stress (HS) in the urine of lactating dairy goats through the application of proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (1H NMR)-based metabolomic analysis. Dairy does (n = 16) in mid-lactation were submitted to thermal neutral (TN; indoors; 15 to 20°C; 40 to 45% humidity) or HS (climatic chamber; 37°C day, 30°C night; 40% humidity) conditions according to a crossover design (2 periods of 21 days). Thermophysiological traits and lactational performances were recorded and milk composition analyzed during each period. Urine samples were collected at day 15 of each period for 1H NMR spectroscopy analysis. Principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least square-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) assessment with cross validation were used to identify the goat urinary metabolome from the Human Metabolome Data Base. HS increased rectal temperature (1.2°C), respiratory rate (3.5-fold) and water intake (74%), but decreased feed intake (35%) and body weight (5%) of the lactating does. No differences were detected in milk yield, but HS decreased the milk contents of fat (9%), protein (16%) and lactose (5%). Metabolomics allowed separating TN and HS urinary clusters by PLS-DA. Most discriminating metabolites were hippurate and other phenylalanine (Phe) derivative compounds, which increased in HS vs. TN does. The greater excretion of these gut-derived toxic compounds indicated that HS induced a harmful gastrointestinal microbiota overgrowth, which should have sequestered aromatic amino acids for their metabolism and decreased the synthesis of neurotransmitters and thyroid hormones, with a negative impact on milk yield and composition. In conclusion, HS markedly changed the thermophysiological traits and lactational performances of dairy goats, which were translated into their urinary metabolomic profile through the presence of gut-derived toxic compounds. Hippurate and other Phe-derivative compounds are suggested as urinary biomarkers to detect heat-stressed dairy animals in practice.