Ethanolamine enhances intestinal functions by altering gut microbiome and mucosal anti-stress capacity in weaned rats

Abstract

Ethanolamine (Etn) contained in milk is the base constituent of phosphatidylethanolamine and is required for the proliferation of intestinal epithelial cells and bacteria, which is important for maintenance of the gut microbiome and intestinal development. The present study investigated the effect of Etn on intestinal function and microbiome using 21-d-old Sprague–Dawley rats treated with 0, 250, 500 and 1000 μmEtn in drinking water for 2 weeks immediately after weaning. Growth performance, intestinal morphology, antioxidant capacity and mucosal immunity, as well as gut microbiota community composition, were evaluated. Metagenomic prediction and metabolic phenotype analysis based on 16S RNA sequencing were also carried out to assess changes in metabolic functions. We found that weaned rats administered 500 μmEtn enhanced mucosal antioxidant capacity, as evidenced by higher superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase levels in the jejunum (P<0·05) compared with those in the control group. Predominant microbes including Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, Elusimicrobia and Tenericutes were altered by different levels of Etn compared with the control group. An Etn concentration of 500 µmshifted colonic microbial metabolic functions that are in favour of lipid- and sugar-related metabolism and biosynthesis. Etn also altered the metabolic phenotypes such as anaerobic microbial counts, and oxidative stress tolerance at over 250 µm. This is the first report for a role of Etn in modifying gut microbiota and intestinal functions. Our findings highlighted the important role of Etn in shaping gut microbial community and promotes intestinal functions, which may provide a better insight of breast-feeding to infant’s gut health.

Milk Polar Lipids: Underappreciated Lipids with Emerging Health Benefits

“…Ethanolamine supplementation at 500 and 1000 µM significantly increased Bacteroidetes and decreased Proteobacteria, Elusimicrobia, and Tenericutes. In addition, a reduction in Spirochetes was also noticed in the mice provided with 500 µM ethanolamine [109]. Overall, most pre-clinical studies in mice have noted some impact of milk polar lipids on gut microbiota composition; however, there are differences in microbiota profiles across studies.…”

“…In another study, Li et al [84] reported that supplementation of MFGM (200 mg/kg body weight) to C57BL/6 mice for eight weeks attenuated gut dysbiosis that occurs with HFD, including increasing the Bacteroidetes/Firmicutes ratio. Recently, modulation of the gut microbiome by ethanolamine, which is the base constituent of PE, was tested by supplementing 0, 250, 500, and 1000 µM ethanolamine to the drinking water of rats [109]. Ethanolamine supplementation at 500 and 1000 µM significantly increased Bacteroidetes and decreased Proteobacteria, Elusimicrobia, and Tenericutes.…”

Effect of Dietary Copper on Intestinal Microbiota and Antimicrobial Resistance Profiles of Escherichia coli in Weaned Piglets

“…The ileal and cecal contents from piglets in the control (without Cu supplementation) group and the group receiving a pharmacological dose of Cu (200 mg Cu/kg feed, n = 6 per treatment) were collected for microbiota analysis, as described previously (Zhou et al, 2018;Xiong et al, 2019). Briefly, total bacterial DNA was extracted using a QIAamp DNA Stool Mini Kit (Qiagen, Hilden, Germany), and the V3-V4 hypervariable region of the microbial 16S rRNA genes were sequenced using the primers, 341F: 5 -CCTAYGGGRBGCASCAG-3 and 806R: 5 -GGACTACNNGGGTATCTAAT-3 ; Illumina adaptors; and molecular barcodes.…”

Dietary lysozyme supplement alters serum biochemical makers and milk metabolite profile of sows via gut microbiota

“…Also, succinate is metabolite that improves glycemic control through the activation of intestinal gluconeogenesis [60]. Our previous work revealed that ethanolamine can enhance intestinal function by altering gut microbiome and mucosal anti-stress capacity [34, 61]. Moreover, L-arginine was shown to play a significant role in shaping the gut microbiota.…”

“…All procedures involving animals were carried out in accordance with guidelines for animal studies issued by the Animal Care and Use Committee of the Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences [34]. Modified hen-egg white lysozyme additives were obtained from Shanghai E. K. M Biotechnology Co. Ltd., Shanghai, China.…”