Temporal changes of the gut microbiome in prenatally androgenized female mice developing PCOS-like phenotypes in later life.

The temporal changes of gut microbiome in prenatally androgenized (PNA) female mice were evaluated by 16S rRNA-based metagenomics analysis. The PNA model was generated by the injection of pregnant mice with dihydrotestosterone (DHT). In details, C57BL/6J pregnant dams were subcutaneously injected on days 16, 17, and 18 of gestation with either 0.1 ml sesame oil (control group) or 0.1 ml sesame oil containing 250 ?g of DHT. PNA female offspring exhibit polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS)-like endocrine and metabolic phenotypes in later life. To clarify the relationship between PCOS development and gut microbiome, the PCOS phenotype and gut microbiome of the female offspring in both groups were analyzed at 4, 6, 8, 12, and 16 weeks of age (n=9-15, per time points). These ages correspond to pre-puberty, puberty, adolescence, young adulthood, and adulthood, respectively. For analysis of gut microbiota, V3-V4 regions of the 16S rRNA gene were sequenced by Illumina MiSeq platform.