Increased weight gain by C-section: Functional significance of the primordial microbiome
Keith A Martinez1,2, Joseph C Devlin1, Corey R Lacher1
1Division of Translational Medicine, Department of Medicine, New York University, School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA.
Abstract:
Epidemiological evidence supports a direct association between early microbiota impact-including C-section-and obesity. We performed antibiotic-free, fostered C-sections and determined the impact on the early microbiota and body weight during development. Mice in the C-section group gained more body mass after weaning, with a stronger phenotype in females. C-section-born mice lacked the dynamic developmental gut microbiota changes observed in control mice. The results demonstrate a causal relationship between C-section and increased body weight, supporting the involvement of maternal vaginal bacteria in normal metabolic development.
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