Ovariectomy results in differential shifts in gut microbiota in low versus high aerobic capacity rats.

Kimberly A Cox-York,Michelle T Foster,Amber Kahl,Lauren G Koch,Steven L Britton,Amy M Sheflin,Christopher L Gentile,Tiffany L Weir

doi:10.14814/phy2.12488

Kimberly A Cox-York, Michelle T Foster + Show 6 more

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https://doi.org/10.14814/phy2.12488

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Abstract

The increased risk for cardiometabolic disease with the onset of menopause is widely studied and likely precipitated by the decline in endogenous estradiol (E2), yet the precise mechanisms are unknown. The gut microbiome is involved in estrogen metabolism and has been linked to metabolic disease, suggesting its potential involvement in the postmenopausal phenotype. Furthermore, menopause-associated risk factors, as well as gut ecology, are altered with exercise. Therefore, we studied microbial changes in an ovariectomized (OVX vs. Sham) rat model of high (HCR) and low (LCR) intrinsic aerobic capacity (n = 8–10/group) in relation to changes in body weight/composition, glucose tolerance, and liver triglycerides (TG). Nine weeks after OVX, HCR rats were moderately protected against regional adipose tissue gain and liver TG accumulation (P < 0.05 for both). Microbial diversity and number of the Bacteroidetes phylum were significantly increased in LCR with OVX, but unchanged in HCR OVX relative to Sham. Plasma short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), produced by bacteria in the gut and recognized as metabolic signaling molecules, were significantly greater in HCR Sham relative to LCR Sham rats (P = 0.05) and were decreased with OVX in both groups. These results suggest that increased aerobic capacity may be protective against menopause-associated cardiometabolic risk and that gut ecology, and production of signaling molecules such as SCFA, may contribute to the mediation.

Highlights

The menopause transition is characterized by an increased risk for cardiometabolic disease concurrent with decreased energy expenditure and increases in total adiposity
We observed a significant change in microbial diversity in the LCR-OVX group, relative to LCR-SHAM, but not in the respective HCR groups. These results indicate that endogenous ovarian hormones influence gut ecology, and that increased aerobic capacity may prevent or delay menopause-associated lipid accumulation
We set out to determine if innate aerobic capacity is protective against the metabolic implications of ovariectomy (OVX) in rats and if these factors are associated with gut microflora diversity and overall gut health

Summary

Introduction

The menopause transition is characterized by an increased risk for cardiometabolic disease (e.g., cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and fatty liver) concurrent with decreased energy expenditure and increases in total adiposity. One potential mechanism is an estrogen-mediated change in the gut microbial community. Strong correlations have been made between the composition of gut microbes and development of metabolic disease, in both a 2015 The Authors. Physiological Reports published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of the American Physiological Society and The Physiological Society.

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