Abstract
SummaryWe previously reported that protein‐restricted rats experienced compensatory growth when they were switched to a normal protein diet (NPD). This study aimed to investigate the changes in gene expression and microbiome in the jejunum of compensatory‐growth rats. Weaned Sprague‐Dawley rats were assigned to an N group, an LN group and an L group. The rats in the L and N groups were fed a low protein diet (LPD) and the NPD respectively. The rats in the LN group were fed with the LPD for 2 weeks, followed by the NPD. The experiment lasted 70 days, and the rats were sacrificed for sampling on days 14, 28 and 70 to determine the jejunal morphology, microbiome and gene expression related to digestive, absorptive and barrier function. The results showed that, although rats in the LN group had temporarily impaired morphology and gene expression in the jejunum on day 14 in response to the LPD, they had improved jejunal morphology and gene expression related to jejunal function on day 28 compared to rats in the N group. This improvement might promote compensatory growth of rats. However, lower expression of genes related to nutrient absorption and undifferentiated villous height (VH) were observed in the jejunum of rats in the LN group on day 70. In contrast, rats in the L group had lower VH on day 28 and day 70, while the expression of absorptive genes increased on day 28 compared to rats in the N group. Additionally, dramatic microbial changes in the jejunum of compensatory‐growth rats were observed, principally for Lactobacillus, Streptococcus, Corynebacterium and Staphylococcus. Moreover, the abundance of Lactobacillus, Streptococcus, Corynebacterium and Staphylococcus significantly correlated with gene expression in the jejunum as revealed by the correlation analysis.
Highlights
The small intestinal tract is crucial for host, as it provides nearly the whole nutrient requirement and regulates host endocrinology and immunity (Borgstrom et al, 1979; Murphy and Bloom, 2006; Peterson and Artis, 2014)
We previously demonstrated that transiently proteinrestricted rats experienced compensatory growth after they were switched to the normal protein diet (NPD)
To achieve the experimental purpose, an NPD as a control group (N group), an L group and an LN group were involved in this study
Summary
The small intestinal tract is crucial for host, as it provides nearly the whole nutrient requirement and regulates host endocrinology and immunity (Borgstrom et al, 1979; Murphy and Bloom, 2006; Peterson and Artis, 2014). Jejunum is a site where violent interactions between mucosal cells, microbiota and nutrients occur, establishing the homoeostasis of host metabolism (Aidy et al, 2013). The effect of microbiota in the proximal parts of small intestine on host metabolism, such as jejunum, has remained largely unexplored to date. Aidy et al (2013) reported that germ-free mice transplanted with faecal microbiota exhibited modified gene transcripts and a metabolic shift from an oxidative energy supply to anabolic metabolism in the jejunal mucosa, indicating the importance of jejunal microbiota in regulating host gene expression and metabolism. Jejunum together with the residing microbiota plays an important role in host metabolism
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