ena-STUDY-SAN DIEGO STATE UNIV-08-11-2018-10:19:20:766-1066
Exposure to a Healthy Gut Microbiome Protects Against Reproductive and Metabolic Dysregulation in a PCOS Mouse Model
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder affecting approximately 10% of reproductive-aged women worldwide. Diagnosis requires two of the following: hyperandrogenism, oligo/anovulation and polycystic ovaries. In addition to reproductive dysfunction, many women with PCOS display metabolic abnormalities associated with hyperandrogenism. Recent studies have reported that the gut microbiome is altered in women with PCOS and rodent models of the disorder. However, it is unknown whether the gut microbiome plays a causal role in the development and pathology of PCOS. Given its potential role, we hypothesized that exposure to a healthy gut microbiome would protect against development of PCOS. A co-housing study was performed using a letrozole-induced PCOS mouse model that recapitulates many reproductive and metabolic characteristics of PCOS. Since mice are coprophagic, co-housing results in repeated, non-invasive inoculation of gut microbes in co-housed mice via the oral-fecal route. In contrast to letrozole-treated mice co-housed together, letrozole-treated mice co-housed with placebo mice showed significant improvement in both reproductive and metabolic PCOS phenotypes. Using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, we observed that the gut microbial composition of letrozole-treated mice co-housed with placebo mice differed from letrozole mice co-housed together. In addition, our analyses identified several bacterial taxa including Coprobacillus, Dorea and Adlercreutzia associated with the improved PCOS phenotype in letrozole-treated mice co-housed with placebo mice. These results indicate that disruption of the gut microbiome may play a causal role in PCOS and that manipulation of the gut microbiome may be a potential treatment option for PCOS.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder affecting approximately 10% of reproductive-aged women worldwide. Diagnosis requires two of the following: hyperandrogenism, oligo/anovulation and polycystic ovaries. In addition to reproductive dysfunction, many women with PCOS display metabolic abnormalities associated with hyperandrogenism. Recent studies have reported that the gut microbiome is altered in women with PCOS and rodent models of the disorder. However, it is unknown whether the gut microbiome plays a causal role in the development and pathology of PCOS. Given its potential role, we hypothesized that exposure to a healthy gut microbiome would protect against development of PCOS. A co-housing study was performed using a letrozole-induced PCOS mouse model that recapitulates many reproductive and metabolic characteristics of PCOS. Since mice are coprophagic, co-housing results in repeated, non-invasive inoculation of gut microbes in co-housed mice via the oral-fecal route. In contrast to letrozole-treated mice co-housed together, letrozole-treated mice co-housed with placebo mice showed significant improvement in both reproductive and metabolic PCOS phenotypes. Using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, we observed that the gut microbial composition of letrozole-treated mice co-housed with placebo mice differed from letrozole mice co-housed together. In addition, our analyses identified several bacterial taxa including Coprobacillus, Dorea and Adlercreutzia associated with the improved PCOS phenotype in letrozole-treated mice co-housed with placebo mice. These results indicate that disruption of the gut microbiome may play a causal role in PCOS and that manipulation of the gut microbiome may be a potential treatment option for PCOS.