Topographical variation in murine intestinal metabolic profiles in relation to microbiome speciation and functional ecological activity.

Symbiotic gut microbes can have a significant influence on host health and disease etiology. Here, we assessed the effects of inoculating germfree mice with human baby microbiota (HBM, n = 17) on the biochemical composition of intact intestinal tissues (duodenum, jejunum, ileum, proximal and distal colon) using magic-angle-spinning 1H NMR spectroscopy. We compared the HBM tissue metabolite profiles with those from conventional (n = 9) and conventionalized (n = 10) mice. Each topographical intestinal region showed a specific metabolic profile that was altered differentially by the various microbiomes, especially for osmolytes. In each animal model, duodenum had higher ethanolamine and myo-inositol, and ileum higher taurine and betaine than other gut regions. HBM mice showed lower taurine and myo-inositol in the colon, and all ex-germfree animals had higher taurine, choline and ethanolamine in the jejunum. Interestingly, the jejunum of HBM mice was marked by a higher glutathione level and lower concentratio...