Abstract
Objective By observing the sex difference of the gut microbiota in rats and the influence of Sophora flavescens (S. flavescens) on the gut microbiota in rats of different genders, it is hoped that it can provide reference materials for the rational use of S. flavescens in clinical practice. Method Taking samples of the jejunum (containing intestinal contents) and feces of 8-week-old rats, and detecting the composition of gut microbiota of females and males by 16S rRNA sequencing technology; At the same time, 8-week-old rats were gavaged with different doses of S. flavescens decoction, and the duodenum, jejunum, ileum, and colon (including the intestinal contents) samples were collected at 1, 2, and 3 weeks, using polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) technology and real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) technology to observe the changes in the structure and the quantitative changes of 4 major intestinal dominant bacteria Enterococcus, Bacteriodes, Lactobacillus, and Clostridium in each intestinal segment, respectively. Result (1) The gut microbiota of normal rats without administration also had obvious gender differences; (2) S. flavescens significantly affects the composition of gut microbiota, and in different intestinal segments, this effect was different between genders under different dosages and different continuous administration times. Conclusion The effect of S. flavescens on the gut microbiota of rats had gender differences.
Highlights
It has been found that the intestine contains at least 9 bacterial phyla, among which Enterococcus, Lactobacillus, Bacteriodes, and Clostridium are the main dominant bacteria genera in the intestinal tract [2, 3]. e gut microbiota is closely related to the body, and it plays many important functions, such as material metabolism, biosynthesis, protection, and nerve function [4]. e composition and structure of the normal human intestinal flora remain relatively stable
In order to assess whether the microbiome is sex-related, we compared the bacterial composition of fecal and jejunal samples from female or male rats. we found significant sex differences in gut microbiota composition, especially in the jejunum (Figures 1(a) and 1(b))
We used analysis of similarity (ANOSIM) and permutational multivariate analysis of covariance (PERMANOVA) to test whether a matrix of major principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) axes was dependent on sex, especially in the jejunum samples. (Figures 1(g) and 1(i); Tables S1 and S2)
Summary
1. Introduction e human intestine contains extremely complex types of bacteria, about 500–1000 species, and these bacteria are collectively refered to as the gut microbiota [1]. It has been found that the intestine contains at least 9 bacterial phyla, among which Enterococcus, Lactobacillus, Bacteriodes, and Clostridium are the main dominant bacteria genera in the intestinal tract [2, 3]. E gut microbiota is closely related to the body, and it plays many important functions, such as material metabolism, biosynthesis, protection, and nerve function [4]. E composition and structure of the normal human intestinal flora remain relatively stable. Under the influence of drugs, diet, and living habits, the structure and function of the gut microbiota change, promoting intestinal inflammation, metabolic diseases, and immunity, leading to the occurrence and development of diseases such as sexual diseases, neurological diseases, and tumors [5]
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