Vol. 12, Issue 4 (2023)

Author(s):
Srinivas M, Pradeep Patil, SSYH Qadri, Satya Vani, Anitha Chauhan, NS Kumar Reddy, Korra Mangthy and Rajender Rao K

Abstract:
Obesity is an increasing burden on the health system, where several animal models and treatments have been tested. However, it is clear that an appropriate model is needed to understand the development of metabolic syndrome and its progression. Animal models are always helpful in discovering new means to diagnose problems or solve health issues. In our institute, two sub-strains of WNIN mutant rats have been identified, maintained and physically and physiologically characterised as animal models for the study of obesity and diabetic diseases. This study sought to characterise the composition of the gut microbiota population and its correlation with the phenotypes established at ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad, India. Samples were obtained from three substrains (N=6) of Wistar/NIN rats (lean control, Ob/ob, Gr/ob). Haematological and serum biochemical parameters were analysed to obtain baseline data for blood parameters. PCR was performed to determine the population of intestinal microbes. Interestingly, it was found that there were significant changes in the gut microbiota of these substrains (Ob/ob, Gr/ob and WNIN-lean control) compared to the WNIN-lean control group. This study points to the role of gut microbiota in relation to physiological and pathological conditions in these mutant strains that lead to the development of obesity under controlled environmental conditions such as diet and water. The Firmicutes are comparable in all groups, while the changes in the other gut microbiota in Ob/ob, Gr/ob clearly demonstrate that these animals are more prone to develop obesity and diabetes.