Postelectroacupuncture Fecal Microbiota Transplantation (post-EA FMT) Regulates Gastrointestinal Hormones in Functional Dyspepsia Rats Is Associated With Modulation of the Intestinal Microbiota-Bile Acid Metabolic Pathway.

BACKGROUND

Electroacupuncture (EA) reshapes intestinal flora; whether post-EA fecal microbiota transplantation (post-EA FMT) regulates gastrointestinal hormones via the gut microbiota-bile acid (BA) pathway remains unclear.

METHODS

Sham EA (SEA) served as control. Gastrointestinal hormones/motility were assessed post-EA. Fecal microbiota from EA/SEA-treated rats were transplanted into pseudo-germ-free (PGF) rats. Gut microbiota and BA profiles were analyzed.

RESULTS

EA downregulated Ghrelin, PYY, GLP-1, upregulated CCK, and enhanced motility in FD rats. Post-EA FMT increased Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes (phylum); upregulated Lactobacillus, Prevotella, [Prevotella] (genus); decreased Blautia, Proteobacteria, Bacteroides; reduced multiple BAs (including TUDCA/TCDCA). TUDCA/TCDCA showed strong positive correlation.

CONCLUSIONS

The gut microbiota-BA pathway associates with post-EA FMT's beneficial regulation of gastrointestinal hormones. The gut microbiota-BA pathway is associated with post-EA FMT's beneficial regulation of gastrointestinal hormones. The gut microbiota-BA pathway is associated with post-EA FMT's beneficial regulation of gastrointestinal hormones. The Lactobacillus/TUDCA/TCDCA axis represents a candidate pathway that may contribute to this process (validation pending). Current findings indicate strong correlations, not causality.