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Microbiotal characteristics colonized in intestinal mucosa of mice with diarrhoea and repeated stress

Chenyang Zhang1, Haoqing Shao1, Xinxin Peng2

  • 1Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Xueshi Road 300, Yuelu District, Changsha, 410208 Hunan Province China.

3 Biotech
|August 25, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Mental stress significantly alters gut microbiota diversity and composition, contributing to diarrhoea. Specific bacterial species are identified as key indicators of this stress-induced condition.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Gastroenterology
  • Stress Physiology

Background:

  • Mental stress is increasingly linked to gastrointestinal disorders, including diarrhoea.
  • The role of the intestinal mucosal microbiota in stress-related diarrhoea remains incompletely understood.
  • Understanding these microbial shifts is crucial for developing targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of mental stress and Folium senna extract on intestinal mucosal microbiota.
  • To identify specific microbial changes associated with stress-induced diarrhoea in mice.
  • To characterize the diversity and composition of the gut microbial community under stress conditions.

Main Methods:

  • Mice were subjected to Folium senna extract and restraint/tail pinch stress for 7 days.
  • Intestinal mucosal microbiota were analyzed using 16S rRNA Pacbio SMRT gene full-length sequencing.
  • Microbial diversity (alpha and beta) and composition were assessed using various indices and statistical analyses (LEfSe, Metastats).

Main Results:

  • Significant alterations in microbial diversity (alpha and beta) and composition were observed in mice with stress-induced diarrhoea (P < 0.05).
  • Staphylococcus sciuri and Escherichia fergusonii were identified as potential keystone species.
  • Ten altered gut microbiota species were identified; beneficial species like Stigmatella aurantiaca were depleted, while potentially harmful species like Klebsiella pneumoniae were enriched.

Conclusions:

  • Mental stress significantly increases intestinal microbiota diversity and alters its composition, contributing to diarrhoea.
  • Specific bacterial species, including enriched Microbacterium dextranolyticum and depleted Stigmatella aurantiaca, serve as characteristic markers for stress-related diarrhoea.
  • These findings highlight the gut microbiota's critical role in mediating the effects of mental stress on gut health.
Keywords:
DiarrhoeaFolium senna extractFunctional gastrointestinal disordersIntestinal microbiotaIntestinal mucosaPsychological distress

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