Prebiotic Supplementation during Lactation Affects Microbial Colonization in Postnatal-Growth-Restricted Mice

Abstract

Background: An inadequate perinatal nutritional environment can alter the maturation of the intestinal barrier and promote long-term pathologies such as metabolic syndrome or chronic intestinal diseases. The intestinal microbiota seems to play a determining role in the development of the intestinal barrier. In the present study, we investigated the impact of consuming an early postnatal prebiotic fiber (PF) on growth, intestinal morphology and the microbiota at weaning in postnatal-growth-restricted mice (PNGR). Methods: Large litters (15 pups/mother) were generated from FVB/NRj mice to induce PNGR at postnatal day 4 (PN4) and compared to control litters (CTRL, 8 pups/mother). PF (a resistant dextrin) or water was orally administered once daily to the pups from PN8 to PN20 (3.5 g/kg/day). Intestinal morphology was evaluated at weaning (PN21) using the ileum and colon. Microbial colonization and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production were investigated using fecal and cecal contents. Results: At weaning, the PNGR mice showed decreased body weight and ileal crypt depth compared to the CTRL. The PNGR microbiota was associated with decreased proportions of the Lachnospiraceae and Oscillospiraceae families and the presence of the Akkermansia family and Enterococcus genus compared to the CTRL pups. The propionate concentrations were also increased with PNGR. While PF supplementation did not impact intestinal morphology in the PNGR pups, the proportions of the Bacteroides and Parabacteroides genera were enriched, but the proportion of the Proteobacteria phylum was reduced. In the CTRL pups, the Akkermansia genus (Verrucomicrobiota phylum) was present in the PF-supplemented CTRL pups compared to the water-supplemented ones. Conclusions: PNGR alters intestinal crypt maturation in the ileum at weaning and gut microbiota colonization. Our data support the notion that PF supplementation might improve gut microbiota establishment during the early postnatal period.

Acutalibacter caecimuris sp. nov., Acutalibacter intestini sp. nov. and Neglectibacter caecimuris sp. nov., three novel species of the family Oscillospiraceae isolated from caecal contents of C57BL/6J mice

“…Among the members of the phylum Firmicutes , the families Lachnospiraceae and Oscillospiraceae were the most abundant bacterial taxa and the major butyrate-producers [3–6]. The abundance of the Oscillospiraceae members was reduced in malnourished mice [7], suggesting that members of the family Oscillospiraceae might be correlated with host nutirition and health.…”

Effect of Pre- and Perinatal Factors and Infant Nutrition on the Intestinal Microbiota

“…MCTs represent a promising therapeutic intervention to reduce fungal colonisation without significantly affecting the bacterial composition of the host gastrointestinal tract. Marousez et al [ 24 ] investigated the impact of consuming early postnatal prebiotic fibre (PF) on growth, intestinal morphology, and the microbiota during weaning in postnatal-growth-restricted mice (PNGR). They found that the PNGR mice had a decreased body weight and ileal crypt depth during weaning compared to the control group and microbiota alterations.…”