Genetic hypogonadal mouse model reveals niche-specific influence of reproductive axis and sex on intestinal microbial communities.

Background: The gut microbiome has been linked to many diseases with sex bias including autoimmune, metabolic, neurological, and reproductive disorders. While numerous studies report sex differences in fecal microbial communities, the role of the reproductive axis in this differentiation is unclear and it is unknown how sex differentiation affects microbial diversity in specific regions of the small and large intestine.

Methods: We used a genetic hypogonadal mouse model that does not produce sex steroids or go through puberty to investigate how sex and the reproductive axis impact bacterial diversity within the intestine.