Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 10, 2025
Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction-based Analyses of Murine Intestinal Microbiota After Oral Antibiotic Treatment
Published on: November 17, 2018
Metronidazole and ciprofloxacin differentially affect chronic unpredictable mild stress-induced changes in the colon,
Chen Meng1,2, Chen Dong3, Hong Liu4,5,6
1School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Institute of Environmental Biology and Life Support Technology, Beihang University, Beijing, 100083, China.
Abstract:
Antibiotics have been shown to have a major impact on the composition and metabolism of gut microbiota, while unpredictable stress has been shown to have major influences on gut microbiota homeostasis. However, the impact of combination antibiotics (e.g. metronidazole and ciprofloxacin) on gut microbiota dysbiosis that is induced by stress remains unclear. Here, chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) was used to simulate unpredictable stress, and Sprague-Dawley rats received antibiotics (metronidazole and ciprofloxacin) after CUMS. The weights and coefficients of the thymus, liver and spleen were analysed. 16S rRNA gene sequencing was performed to determine the gut microbiota in the colon, cecum and ileum. We found that antibiotics decreased the CUMS-induced increases in spleen coefficients. Short-term antibiotic exposure significantly increased the cecum and ileum microbiota richness and significantly increased the ileum microbiota diversity after CUMS. Long-term antibiotic exposure significantly decreased the colon microbiota diversity and significantly increased the ileum microbiota richness after CUMS. The impacts of antibiotic exposure on the microbiota compositions at the phylum and genus levels in different gut segments were different after CUMS. However, it is worth noting that the most differentially abundant bacteria in the colon, cecum and ileum were all Verrucomicrobia under long-term antibiotic exposure. Antibiotic exposure significantly increased the relative abundance of Lactobacillus in the colon and ileum and significantly increased the relative abundance of Akkermansia in the colon and cecum after CUMS. In conclusion, this study showed that metronidazole and ciprofloxacin differentially affected the CUMS-induced changes in the microbiota of the colon, cecum and ileum.Key points• The impacts of antibiotic exposure on the changes in microbiota that were induced by chronic unpredictable mild stress were analysed.• We collected rat gut microorganisms from the colon, cecum and ileum.• The diversities, compositions, functions and network structures were analysed.
Insights
Chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) combined with antibiotics like metronidazole and ciprofloxacin alters gut microbiota composition and diversity in rats. Antibiotic exposure differentially impacts gut bacteria, affecting richness and abundance in various segments.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Pharmacology
- Physiology
Background:
- Gut microbiota homeostasis is disrupted by unpredictable stress and antibiotic exposure.
- The combined effects of stress and antibiotics on gut microbiota remain poorly understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of combined metronidazole and ciprofloxacin antibiotic treatment on gut microbiota dysbiosis induced by chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) in rats.
- To analyze changes in gut microbiota composition, diversity, and abundance in different segments (colon, cecum, ileum) following stress and antibiotic exposure.
Main Methods:
- Rats were subjected to CUMS to induce stress.
- Antibiotic treatment (metronidazole and ciprofloxacin) was administered post-CUMS.
- Organ coefficients (thymus, liver, spleen) were measured.
- 16S rRNA gene sequencing was used to analyze gut microbiota in the colon, cecum, and ileum.
Main Results:
- Antibiotics reduced CUMS-induced increases in spleen coefficients.
- Short-term antibiotic exposure increased cecum and ileum microbiota richness and ileum diversity.
- Long-term antibiotic exposure decreased colon microbiota diversity but increased ileum richness.
- Verrucomicrobia became the most abundant bacteria in all gut segments after long-term antibiotic exposure.
- Antibiotic exposure increased Lactobacillus and Akkermansia abundance in specific gut segments.
Conclusions:
- Metronidazole and ciprofloxacin differentially modulate stress-induced gut microbiota alterations.
- Antibiotic treatment impacts gut microbiota richness, diversity, and specific bacterial abundances in a segment-dependent manner.
- The study highlights the complex interplay between stress, antibiotics, and the gut microbiome.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:18Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Antimicrobials as Antidiarrheal Agents
01:17Irritable Bowel Syndrome I: Introduction
IBS is a chronic condition that can persist over a long period or recur frequently.
The pathogenesis of IBS involves a complex interplay of the following factors:
Altered...
01:21Drugs for Treatment of Constipation-Predominant IBS
01:29Inflammatory Bowel Disease IV: Pharmacological Management
Pharmacologic...