Undernutrition shifted colonic fermentation and digest-associated bacterial communities in pregnant ewes

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of undernutrition on colonic microbiota and fermentation in pregnant ewes. Sixteen ewes bearing multiple fetuses for 115 days in the control (CON) and severe feed restriction (SFR) groups were fed 100% and 30% level of ad libitum feed intake, respectively. After 15-day treatment, all ewes were sacrificed to collect colonic digesta samples to extract DNA for 16S rRNA sequencing and to detect fermentation parameters. Our data showed that SFR increased (P < 0.05) the levels of colonic propionate, isobutyrate, butyrate, isovalerate, and valerate, and slightly decreased (P < 0.1) colonic pH. The mole proportions of isobutyrate, butyrate, and isovalerate were increased (P < 0.05) upon SFR while that of acetate was decreased (P < 0.05). Hematoxylin-eosin staining sections exhibited the disorderly, irregular, and loose arrangement and part sloughing of colonic epithelial cells. Furthermore, SFR decreased (P < 0.05) the diversity of colonic microbiota and changed the microbial communities. At the genus level, SFR increased (P < 0.05) the abundance of unclassified Peptococcaceae and decreased (P < 0.05) the abundances of Ruminococcus, unclassified Ruminococcaceae, and unclassified VadinBB60. Additionally, the abundances of Ruminococcus and unclassified Ruminococcaceae were positively correlated (P < 0.05) with the acetate proportion while the abundance of unclassified Peptococcaceae was negatively correlated (P < 0.05) with the percentages of isobutyrate, butyrate, and isovalerate. In summary, SFR diminished the diversity of bacteria, affected the composition of bacterial communities, and finally changed the colonic fermentation pattern and epithelial histomorphology in pregnant ewes. KEY POINTS: • Undernutrition changed colonic bacterial diversity and composition in pregnant ewes. • Microbial alteration affected colonic fermentation pattern and parameters. • Alteration of colonic microbiota and fermentation damaged epithelium histomorphology. Graphical abstract.