Abdominal Low-intensity Pulsed Ultrasound Therapy Mitigates Intestinal Damage and Microbial Dysbiosis in Diabetic Mice.

OBJECTIVE

Diabetes impairs intestinal barrier integrity and disrupts gut microbiota balance, exacerbating hyperglycemia. While low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) has been shown to alleviate inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), its role in diabetes-related gut dysfunction remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate whether LIPUS could improve intestinal barrier function, modulate gut microbiota, and mitigate hyperglycemia in type 1 diabetic (T1D) mice.

METHODS

Streptozotocin-induced type 1 diabetic (T1D) mice received a daily 20-min abdominal LIPUS treatment (30 mW/cm²) for 6 wk. Body weight and blood glucose levels were monitored weekly throughout the intervention period. After sacrifice, the intestinal morphology was examined, and barrier integrity was systematically evaluated. The composition of the gut microbiota was analyzed, along with the quantification of microbial-derived metabolites.

RESULTS

T1D mice exhibited weight loss, hyperglycemia, intestinal damage, and microbial dysbiosis. LIPUS treatment upregulated the intestinal mRNA expression of ZO-1 and Occludin, enhancing barrier function. LIPUS increased the abundance of beneficial bacteria (e.g., Lactobacillus, Intestinimonas) and the levels of short-chain fatty acids (acetate, propionate, butyrate), while reducing lipopolysaccharides. Crucially, LIPUS significantly lowered blood glucose levels in the diabetic mice.

CONCLUSION

These findings demonstrate that abdominal LIPUS restores gut barrier integrity and microbiota homeostasis, offering a novel therapeutic strategy for mitigating the progression of diabetes.