AUTHOR=Wang Qiang-Jun , Guo Yao , Zhang Ke-Hao , Zhang Lei , Geng Shi-Xia , Shan Chun-Hua , Liu Peng , Zhu Meng-Qi , Jin Qiong-Yu , Liu Zhong-Ying , Wang Mei-Zhi , Li Ming-Yong , Liu Man , An Lei , Tian Jian-Hui , Wu Zhong-Hong 

TITLE=Night-Restricted Feeding Improves Gut Health by Synchronizing Microbe-Driven Serotonin Rhythm and Eating Activity-Driven Body Temperature Oscillations in Growing Rabbits

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology

VOLUME=11

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cellular-and-infection-microbiology/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2021.771088

DOI=10.3389/fcimb.2021.771088

ISSN=2235-2988

ABSTRACT=<p>The circadian misalignment of the gut microbiota caused by unusual eating times in adult animals is related to disease development. However, whether the composition and diurnal rhythm of gut microbiota can be optimized by synchronizing the window period of eating with natural eating habits to reduce the risk of diarrhea remains unclear, especially in growing animals. In this study, 108 5-week-old weaned rabbits (nocturnal animals) were randomly subjected to daytime feeding (DF) and night-restricted feeding (NRF). At age 12 weeks, six rabbits were selected from each group, and caecum and cecal contents, as well as serum samples were collected at 4-h intervals during 24 h. Overall, NRF was found to reduce the risk of diarrhea in growing rabbits, improved the diurnal rhythm and abundance of beneficial microorganisms, along with the production of beneficial metabolites, whereas reduced the abundance of potential pathogens (<italic>Synergistes</italic>, <italic>Desulfovibrio</italic>, and <italic>Alistipes</italic>). Moreover, NRF improved diurnal rhythm of tryptophan hydroxylase isoform 1 and serotonin. Furthermore, NRF strengthened the diurnal amplitude of body core temperature, and promoted the diurnal expression of intestinal clock genes (<italic>BMAL1</italic>, <italic>CLOCK</italic>, <italic>REV-ERBα</italic>, and <italic>PER1</italic>), and genes related to the regulation of the intestinal barrier (<italic>CLAUDIN-1</italic>), and intestinal epithelial cell self-proliferation and renewal (<italic>BMI1</italic>). <italic>In vitro</italic> simulation experiments further revealed that synchronization of microbial-driven serotonin rhythm and eating activity-driven body temperature oscillations, which are important zeitgebers, could promote the diurnal expression of clock genes and <italic>CLAUDIN-1</italic> in rabbit intestinal epithelial cells (RIEC), and enhance RIEC proliferation. This is the first study to reveal that NRF reprograms the diurnal rhythm of the gut microbiome, promotes the diurnal expression of clock genes and tight junction genes <italic>via</italic> synchronization of microbial-driven serotonin rhythm and eating activity-driven body temperature oscillations, thereby improving intestinal health and reducing the risk of diarrhea in growing rabbits. Collectively, these results provide a new perspective for the healthy feeding and management of growing animals.</p>