Neonatal hypoxia leads to impaired intestinal function and changes in the composition and metabolism of its microbiota

作者：Jun Wen, Yue Wu, Fengfeng Zhang, Yanchu Wang, Aifen Yang, Wenwen Lu, Xiaofeng Zhao, Huaping Tao · 发表于：Scientific Reports · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.1038/s41598-025-00041-2 · 被引用次数：4 · 研究领域：Diet and metabolism studies、Neonatal Respiratory Health Research、Birth, Development, and Health

Neonatal hypoxia, a prevalent complication during the perinatal period, poses a serious threat to the health of newborns. The intestine, as one of the most metabolically active organs under stress conditions, is particularly vulnerable and susceptible to hypoxic injury. Using a neonatal hypoxic mouse model, we systematically investigated hypoxia-induced intestinal barrier damage and underlying mechanisms. Hypoxia caused significant structural abnormalities in the ileum and distal colon of neonatal mice, including increased numbers of F4/80 + cells ( p = 0.0031), swollen mucus particles ( p = 0.0119), and disrupted tight junction. At the genetic level, hypoxia caused dysregulation of the expression of genes involved in intestinal barrier function, including antimicrobial activity, immune response, intestinal motility, and nutrient absorption. Further 16 S rDNA sequencing revealed hypoxia-driven gut microbiota dysbiosis with general reduced microbial abundance and diversity (Chao1 = 0.1143, Shannon = 0.0571, and Simpson = 0.3429). Structural dysbiosis of the gut microbiota consequently perturbed metabolic homeostasis, especially enhancing the activity of glycolipid metabolism. Notably, results showed that hypoxia may interfere with neurotransmitter metabolism, thereby increasing the risk of neurological disorders.