Effects of Perinatal Tcdd Exposure on Colonic Microbiota and Metabolism in Offspring and Mother Mice
27 Pages Posted: 9 Dec 2021
Abstract
Emerging evidence supports that exposure to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) impacts the gut microbiota and metabolic pathways. TCDD can transmit from mother to child, thus we speculate that maternal exposure to TCDD may affect the gut microbiota in mothers and offspring. To acquire in vivo evidence supporting this hypothesis, female C57BL/6 mice were administered with TCDD (0.1 and 10 μg/kg bw) during pregnancy and lactation periods, and then the changes of colonic microbiota in offspring and mothers were evaluated. High-throughput sequencing of V4 regions of 16S rRNA gene was proceeded. The composition and structure of colonic microbiota in offspring and mothers were significantly influenced by 10 μg/kg bw TCDD manifested in up-regulated harmful bacteria and down-regulated beneficial bacteria. Paradoxically, pathogenic bacteria and opportunistic pathogens were conversely decreased in the low-dose TCDD treatment group of offspring. Tryptophan (Trp) metabolism had a noticeable change caused by the alteration of colonic microbiota in offspring after maternal exposure to 10 μg/kg bw TCDD, which showed a linear dependence, demonstrating pathogens or opportunistic pathogens may accelerate the dysbiosis of Trp metabolism. The disorder of Trp metabolism cause by the changed colonic microbiota may in turn impact other intestinal segments or even living organism. Our study provides new evidence indicating a potential influence of early TCDD exposure on the colonic microbiota and metabolism.
Keywords: TCDD, gut microbiota, colon, tryptophan metabolism
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