Nitrate exposure induces intestinal microbiota dysbiosis and metabolism disorder in Bufo gargarizans tadpoles.

Abstract Excess nitrate has been reported to be associated with many adverse effects in humans and experimental animals. However, there is a paucity of information of the effects of nitrate on intestinal microbial community. In this study, the effects of nitrate on development, intestinal microbial community, and metabolites of Bufo gargarizans tadpoles were investigated. B. gargarizans were exposed to control, 5, 20 and 100 mg/L nitrate-nitrogen (NO3–N) from eggs to Gosner stage 38. Our data showed that the body size of tadpoles significantly decreased in the 20 and 100 mg/L NO3–N treatment group when compared to control tadpoles. Exposure to 20 and 100 mg/L NO3–N also caused indistinct cell boundaries and nuclear pyknosis of mucosal epithelial cells in intestine of tadpoles. In addition, exposure to NO3–N significantly altered the intestinal microbiota diversity and structure. The facultative anaerobic Proteobacteria occupy the niche of the obligately anaerobic Bacteroidetes and Fusobacteria under the pressure of NO3–N exposure. According to the results of functional prediction, NO3–N exposure affected the fatty acid metabolism pathway and amino acid metabolism pathway. The whole-body fatty acid components were found to be changed after exposure to 100 mg/L NO3–N. Therefore, we concluded that exposure to 20 and 100 mg/L NO3–N could induce deficient nutrient absorption in intestine, resulting in malnutrition of B. gargarizans tadpoles. High levels of NO3–N could also change the intestinal microbial communities, causing dysregulation of fatty acid metabolism and amino acid metabolism in B. gargarizans tadpoles.