The effects of Lactobacillus intestinalis strain YT2 on menopausal symptoms in ovariectomized rats

Menopause is the natural process caused by decreased synthesis and secretion of estrogen in ovaries. Menopausal women experienced trouble by various menopausal symptoms. Hormone replacement therapy was primarily used to reduce menopausal symptoms, but new therapies are needed because they have side effects. We investigated the effects of Lactobacillus intestinalis YT2 on menopausal symptoms in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. Oral administration of L. intestinalis YT2 significantly recover menopause symptoms such as fat mass, bone mineral density, pain sensitivity and depression-related behavior. L. intestinalis YT2 also increased gut barrier integrity and mRNA levels of tight junction related markers such as claudin-3, claudin-4, occludin, ZO01 and JAM. The present results elucidated that the treatment of L. acidophilus YT2 could alleviate menopausal symptoms by increasing gut barrier function and we further suggest it could be developed as functional foods and probiotics for elderly women health.

绝经是由卵巢雌激素合成与分泌减少所引发的自然生理过程。绝经女性常受各类绝经相关症状的困扰。激素替代疗法（Hormone Replacement Therapy, HRT）曾是缓解绝经症状的主要手段，但因其存在副作用，亟需开发新型治疗方案。本研究探讨了肠道乳杆菌YT2（Lactobacillus intestinalis YT2）对卵巢切除术后（ovariectomized, OVX）模型大鼠绝经症状的改善作用。口服给予肠道乳杆菌YT2可显著改善体脂含量、骨密度、痛觉敏感性及抑郁相关行为等绝经相关症状。肠道乳杆菌YT2还可提升肠道屏障完整性，并上调紧密连接相关标志物的mRNA表达水平，包括闭合蛋白-3（claudin-3）、闭合蛋白-4（claudin-4）、闭合蛋白（occludin）、ZO-1（ZO01）以及连接黏附分子（junctional adhesion molecule, JAM）。本研究结果表明，肠道乳杆菌YT2干预可通过增强肠道屏障功能缓解绝经症状，本研究进一步提示其可开发为用于老年女性健康的功能性食品与益生菌制剂。