Fecal microbial composition associated with testosterone in the development of Meishan male pigs.

Introduction: The gut microbiota closely relates to host health, whereas the relationship between gut microbiota and testosterone during the development of Meishan male pigs remains unclear. This study investigated the fecal microbiota composition and testosterone level during development in Meishan male pigs.

Methods: Fresh fecal samples of 20 healthy Meishan male pigs were individually collected at 10 and 22 weeks (wk) of age for testosterone content detection and bacteria pyrosequencing analysis. Anaerobic culture experiment of fecal bacteria in vitro was performed for bacteria pyrosequencing analysis.

Results: The fecal testosterone content increased significantly from 10 weeks (wk) to 22 wk of age ( < 0.05). Meanwhile, the boars at 22 wk had a lower abundance of phylum and , and genus , , , and in the fecal microbiota composition ( < 0.05). but higher proportions of the phylum , , , and , and genus , and than that at 10 wk ( < 0.05), and the Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio was higher at 22 wk than 10 wk ( < 0.05). Moreover, the fecal testosterone level significantly correlated with the relative abundance of the phylum , , and , and genus , , , and . Furthermore, the experiments indicated that the abundance of the phylum and genus reduced with the increase of supplemental testosterone level. In contrast, the proportion of phylum increased with additional testosterone levels.

Discussion: Testosterone could modulate the microflora structure. Meanwhile, the bacteria could degrade the testosterone in a dose testosterone-dependent manner. These results provide us with new insights into the relationship between the gut microbiome and testosterone and the contributions of the gut microbiome in physiological regulation in response to gonad development.