gut metagenome in rats

This study aimed to investigate the effects of restraint stress and orthodontic treatment on intestine in rats. Twenty 8-week-old male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: sham-stressed non-orthodontic (CC), sham-stressed orthodontic (CO), stressed non-orthodontic (SC), and stressed orthodontic (SO). Compositional changes of the intestinal flora and metabolite alterations were determined by 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing and untargeted metabolomics sequencing. After euthanizing the rats on day 21, the cecum segment of the rats was carefully isolated, its contents were extruded, and immediately frozen and stored in a -80oC refrigerator.