Changes in Intestinal Microflora and Lipid Metabolism in Ovariectomized Rats and Regulatory Effect of Erxian Decoction / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ABSTRACT

ObjectiveTo explore the intervention effect of Erxian decoction on intestinal microflora after ovariectomy in rats by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. MethodThirty-two female healthy SD rats were randomly divided into a Sham operation （Sham） group， a model （OVX） group， an estrogen （E） group， and an Erxian decoction （EXD） group， with 8 rats in each group. The rats in the E group and the EXD group received 1.8×10-4 g·kg-1 estradiol valerate solution and 9 g·kg-1 Erxian decoction， respectively， and those in the Sham group and the OVX group received an equal volume of distilled water once a day for 16 weeks. After 16 weeks， the levels of serum estrogen and blood lipid were detected. The fecal DNA was extracted， followed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and analysis. ResultCompared with the Sham group， the OVX group showed reduced serum estrogen level （P<0.01） and increased serum levels of total cholesterol （TC） and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol （LDL-C） （P<0.05）. Compared with the OVX group， the E group and the EXD group showed increased serum estrogen level （P<0.01） and reduced TC and LDL-C （P<0.05）. Alpha diversity showed that there was no significant change in intestinal microflora diversity after ovariectomy. Beta diversity showed that there were significant differences in the structure of intestinal microflora in the four groups. The intervention of Erxian decoction could improve the changes in intestinal microflora after ovariectomy. LEfSe was used to analyze the differential flora in the four groups. The results showed that the Sham group and the OVX group had 3 differential bacterial phyla and 18 differential bacterial genera， the OVX group and the E group had 1 differential bacterial phylum and 12 differential bacterial genera， and the OVX group and the EXD group had 3 differential bacterial phyla and 5 differential bacterial genera. Estrogen intervention could reverse the change trend of Ruminococcus 1， Anaerovibrio， and Turicibacter in the OVX group. Erxian decoction intervention could reverse the change trend of Bacteroidetes， Firmicutes， Prevotella 9， Ruminococcaceae UCG-014， Ruminococcus 1， and Fusicatenibacter in the OVX group. ConclusionThe structure and function of intestinal microflora in ovariectomized rats changed obviously， and Erxian decoction could ameliorate the change.