Dynamic alteration in the gut microbiota and metabolome of Huanjiang mini-pigs during the pregnancy

Gut microbiota and their metabolites were associated with obesity. Our previous study showed that maternal body fat percentage increased from days 45 to 110 of gestation in a Huanjiang mini-pig model. Thus, 16S rRNA sequencing and metabolomics techniques were used to investigate the changes of gut microbiota composition and microbial metabolite profile of sows from days 45 to 110 of gestation. Results showed that the abundances of Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1, Romboutsia, Turicibacter, and Streptococcus in jejunum contents were higher at day 110 than those at day 45 or 75 of gestation. In ileum, the abundance of Streptococcus was highest (P < 0.05) at day 110 of gestation, as well as the metabolism function of jejunal and ileal microbiota. The ileal butyrate and acetate concentrations were highest at day 45 and day 110 of gestation, respectively. In colon, the concentrations of cadaverine and spermine were highest (P < 0.05) at day 45 and day 110 of gestation, respectively. Metabolomic analyses demonstrated that metabolic pathways including D-glutamine and D-glutamate metabolism, phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan biosynthesis, and alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism changed during gestation. Collectively, microbiota composition and metabolites changed dramatically from the early to the late pregnancy, which might be associated with the maternal fat accumulation.