J Cancer Prev.  2018 Jun;23(2):70-76. 10.15430/JCP.2018.23.2.70.

Comparative Analysis of Ileal and Cecal Microbiota in Aged Rats

• Lee SM
• Kim N
• Park JH
• Nam RH
• Yoon K
• Lee DH

• KMID: 2417369
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.15430/JCP.2018.23.2.70

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Gut microbiota contributes to intestinal and immune homeostasis through host-microbiota interactions. Distribution of the gut microbiota differs according to the location in the gastrointestinal tract. Although the microbiota properties change with age, evidence for the regional difference of gut microbiota has been restricted to the young. The aim of this study is to compare the gut microbiota between terminal ileum and cecum of old rats.
METHODS
We analyzed gut microbiome of luminal contents from ileum and cecum of 74-week-old and 2-year-old rats (corresponding to 60-year and 80-year-old of human age) by metagenome sequencing of 16S rRNA.
RESULTS
Inter-individual variation (beta diversity) of microbiota was higher in ileum than in cecum. Conversely, alpha diversity of microbiota composition was higher in cecum than in ileum. Lactobacillaceae were more abundant in ileum compared to cecum while Ruminococcaceae and Lachnospiraceae were more enriched in cecum. The proportions of Deltaproteobacteria were increased in cecal microbiota of 2-year-old rats compared to 74-week-old rats.
CONCLUSIONS
Major regional distinctions of microbiota between ileum and cecum of old rats appear consistent with those of young rats. Age-related alterations of gut microbiota in old rats seem to occur in minor compositions.

Keyword

Gastrointestinal microbiome; Ileum; Cecum; Aging; Rats

MeSH Terms

Aged, 80 and over
Aging
Animals
Cecum
Child, Preschool
Deltaproteobacteria
Gastrointestinal Microbiome
Gastrointestinal Tract
Homeostasis
Humans
Ileum
Lactobacillaceae
Metagenome
Microbiota*
Phenobarbital
Rats*
Phenobarbital