title: Bromochloromethane, a Methane Analogue, Affects the Microbiota and Metabolic Profiles of the Rat Gastrointestinal Tract.
abstract: Bromochloromethane (BCM), an inhibitor of methanogenesis, has been used in animal production. However, little is known about its impact on the intestinal microbiota and metabolic patterns. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of BCM on the colonic bacterial community and metabolism by establishing a Wistar rat model. Twenty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups (control and treated with BCM) and raised for 6 weeks. Bacterial fermentation products in the cecum were determined, and colonic methanogens and sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) were quantified. The colonic microbiota was analyzed by pyrosequencing of the 16S rRNA genes, and metabolites were profiled by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. The results showed that BCM did not affect body weight and feed intake, but it did significantly change the intestinal metabolic profiles. Cecal protein fermentation was enhanced by BCM, as methylamine, putrescine, phenylethylamine, tyramine, and skatole were significantly increased. Colonic fatty acid and carbohydrate concentrations were significantly decreased, indicating the perturbation of lipid and carbohydrate metabolism by BCM. BCM treatment decreased the abundance of methanogen populations, while SRB were increased in the colon. BCM did not affect the total colonic bacterial counts but significantly altered the bacterial community composition by decreasing the abundance of actinobacteria, acidobacteria, and proteobacteria. The results demonstrated that BCM treatment significantly altered the microbiotic and metabolite profiles in the intestines, which may provide further information on the use of BCM in animal production.
authors.affiliation: Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Nutrition and Animal Health, Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Microbiology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China.
authors.forename: Yu-Xiang
authors.initials: YX
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Nutrition and Animal Health, Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Microbiology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China.
authors.forename: Chun-Long
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Mu
authors.affiliation: Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Nutrition and Animal Health, Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Microbiology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China.
authors.forename: Zhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Nutrition and Animal Health, Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Microbiology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China zhuweiyun@njau.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Wei-Yun
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D061271:Acidobacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D039903:Actinobacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D050260:Carbohydrate Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects; D002432:Cecum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D019605:Euryarchaeota / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005285:Fermentation; D000069196:Gastrointestinal Microbiome / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000187:drug effects / Q000382:microbiology*; D006846:Hydrocarbons, Halogenated / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D007422:Intestines / Q000187:drug effects / Q000382:microbiology; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects; D055442:Metabolome / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D020560:Proteobacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000378:metabolism; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D006846:Hydrocarbons, Halogenated; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; C006811:bromochloromethane