Intestinal microbiota characteristics of mice treated with decoction gavage combined with restraint and tail pinch stress.

To investigate the characteristics of the intestinal microbiota of mice treated with decoction gavage combined with restraint and tail pinch stress. Ten healthy male Kunming mice were chosen and randomly divided into control group and model group, with five mice in each group. Mice in the control group were raised regularly, while mice in the model group were treated by feeding with decoction, restraint in a constraint tube and tail pinch with a clip for 7 days. Intestinal contents from the jejunum to ileum were collected, and DNA was extracted from each mouse. The characteristics of the intestinal microbial species were analysed by PacBio Sequel-based 16S rRNA sequencing. Result showed that alpha diversity indices in the model group were higher than those in the control group, and the Simpson index differed significantly ( < 0.05). Based on the composition and abundances of species, there were differences between the control group and model group at the species level, but these differences were not significant ( > 0.05). In the control group, sp SFB-mouse and were the dominant species. In the model group, , , sp. SFB-mouse and were included. Furthermore, LEfSe analysis showed that the relative abundances of sp. BBDP27, , and in the model group were higher than those in the control group ( < 0.05 or  < 0.01). In conclusion, decoction gavage combined with restraint and tail pinch stress increased the intestinal microbiota diversity. Strains associated with intestinal diseases, including , , and , were significantly enriched, while strains beneficial to health, such as sp. SFB-mouse and , were significantly depleted.