Gut microbiota absence and transplantation affect growth and intestinal functions: an investigation in a germ-free pig model

Abstract This study was conducted to investigate host-microbiota interactions and explore the effects of maternal gut microbiota transplantation on the growth and intestinal functions of newborns in a germ-free (GF) pig model. Twelve hysterectomy-derived GF Bama piglets were reared in six sterile isolators. Among them, six were considered as the GF group, while the other six were orally inoculated with healthy sow fecal suspension as fecal microbiota transplanted (FMT) group. Another six piglets from natural birth were regarded as the conventional (CV) group. The GF and FMT groups were hand-fed with Co60-γ-irradiated sterile milk powder, while the CV group was reared by lactating Bama sow. All groups were fed for 21 days. Then, all piglets and then were switched to sterile feed for another 21 days. Results showed that the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and concentrations of short-chain fatty acids in the GF group decreased (P