Shifts in the intestinal microflora of meat rabbits in response to glucocorticoids.

BACKGROUND: As major stress hormones, glucocorticoids can directly or indirectly affect the intestinal microflora, although few studies have focused on changes in the composition of the intestinal microflora. In this study, rabbits were randomly divided into two groups: gavage administration with saline, and the same doses of dexamethasone (1 mg kg−1). After 7 days, the microbial diversity of the jejunum contents was analysed. RESULTS: The gut microflora richness and diversity had no significant difference between the two groups. The proportions of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes were the most abundant in the jejunum of meat rabbits. Dexamethasone injection led to a change in the structure of the gut microflora composition, and we found that there were six biomarkers with linear discriminant analysis score >4 (Firmicutes, Caproiciproducens, Clostridiales, Clostridia, Psychrobacter, and Psychrobacter faecalis), moreover, the results of this study provide new insight into alleviating the effects of stress on meat rabbits. CONCLUSION: It was concluded that glucocorticoids caused changes in the composition of intestinal microflora. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]