Surgical Menopause and Estrogen Therapy Modulate the Gut Microbiota, Obesity Markers, and Spatial Memory in Rats

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Microbiology
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Ovarian hormone deficiency post-menopause increases risks for metabolic and neurodegenerative diseases.
• Gut microbiota alterations are linked to these menopausal health issues, but the specific effects of hormone deficiency and therapy are unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how ovariectomy (OVX)-induced 17β-estradiol (E2) deficiency and subsequent E2 administration affect metabolic health, gut microbiota, and cognitive function in a rat model.
• To explore potential gut-brain interactions influenced by surgical menopause and E2 treatment.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a rat model to simulate surgical menopause (OVX) and administer 17β-estradiol (E2).
• Analyzed changes in intestinal bacterial taxa abundance, microbial short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), body weight/BMI, and spatial working memory.
• Performed exploratory correlation analyses between gut microbiota, cognition, and BMI.

Main Results:

• OVX and E2 treatment significantly altered the abundance of specific intestinal bacteria (e.g., Bifidobacteriaceae, Porphyromonadaceae) and microbial SCFAs (e.g., isobutyrate).
• Surgical menopause and E2 administration affected body weight/BMI and spatial working memory.
• Correlations were observed between gut bacteria, cognition, and BMI, suggesting a role for gut-brain axis modulation.

Conclusions:

• Surgical menopause is associated with significant physiological and behavioral changes.
• 17β-estradiol (E2)-linked alterations in the gut microbiota may contribute to negative health outcomes post-menopause.
• This study offers insights into endocrine-gastrointestinal system interactions impacting the risk of cardiovascular, metabolic, and dementia-related diseases.