Improvement of human faecal flora-associated mouse model for evaluation of the functional foods.
OBJECTIVE
Animal models are required for evaluation of the functional foods such as pro/prebiotics exerting effects through the metabolism of the intestinal microflora. The object of this study was to establish new human flora-associated mice reflecting the environment of the human intestinal tract.


RESULTS
We inoculated a human faecal suspension into segmented filamentous bacteria (SFB) monoassociated mice as a model system. In both human flora (HF) and SFB-associated mouse (HF-SFB mouse), intestinal characteristics such as the composition of intraepithelial lymphocytes, the expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules and the number of immunoglobulin A-producing cells in the mucosa was closer to those of conventionally reared mice than was case with human flora-associated mice (HF mice) lacking SFB. Several predominant bacterial groups except lactobacilli in human flora were found in faeces of HF-SFB mice. Lactobacilli established small populations in the gut of HF-SFB mice when administered before inoculation with the human flora. Faecal enzymatic activities and organic acid concentration of HF-SFB mice proportionally reflected those of the donor subject.


CONCLUSIONS
We established a new human flora-associated mouse (HF-SFB mouse), in which intestinal characteristics are normally developed and their major microbial composition reflect the human.


CONCLUSIONS
HF-SFB mice are a valuable model for studying pro/prebiotic effects on the human intestine.
Imaoka
A
A
Yakult Central Institute for Microbiological Research, Tokyo, Japan.
Setoyama
H
H
Takagi
A
A
Matsumoto
S
S
Umesaki
Y
Y
D000085:Acetates / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D007422:Intestines / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D023421:Models, Animal; D019936:Probiotics; D011422:Propionates / Q000032:analysis
D000085:Acetates; D011422:Propionates