Gut Microbiota Represent a Major Thermogenic Biomass

Ruth A Riedl; Colin M L Burnett; Nicole A Pearson; John J Reho; Mohamad Mokadem; Robert A Edwards; Tammy L Kindel; John R Kirby; Justin L Grobe

doi:10.1093/function/zqab019

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Gut Microbiota Represent a Major Thermogenic Biomass

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Gut Microbiota Represent a Major Thermogenic Biomass

Ruth A Riedl, Colin M L Burnett, Nicole A Pearson, John J Reho, Mohamad Mokadem, Robert A Edwards, Tammy L Kindel, John R Kirby and Justin L Grobe

Function (Oxford, England), Vol.2(3), pp.zqab019-zqab019

2021

DOI: 10.1093/function/zqab019

PMCID: PMC8055641

PMID: 33939772

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https://doi.org/10.1093/function/zqab019View

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Abstract

Evidence supports various roles for microbial metabolites in the control of multiple aspects of host energy flux including feeding behaviors, digestive efficiency, and energy expenditure, but few studies have quantified the energy utilization of the biomass of the gut microbiota itself. Because gut microbiota exist in an anoxic environment, energy flux is expected to be anaerobic; unfortunately, commonly utilized O /CO respirometry-based approaches are unable to detect anaerobic energy flux. To quantify the contribution of the gut microbial biomass to whole-animal energy flux, we examined the effect of surgical reduction of gut biomass in C57BL/6J mice via cecectomy and assessed energy expenditure using methods sensitive to anaerobic flux, including bomb and direct calorimetry. First, we determined that cecectomy caused an acceleration of weight gain over several months due to a reduction in combined total host plus microbial energy expenditure, as reflected by an increase in energy efficiency (ie, weight gained per calorie absorbed). Second, we determined that under general anesthesia, cecectomy caused immediate changes in heat dissipation that were significantly modified by short-term pretreatment with dietary or pharmaceutical interventions known to modify the microbiome, and confirmed that these effects were undetectable by respirometry. We conclude that while the cecum only contributes approximately 1% of body mass in the mouse, this organ contributes roughly 8% of total resting energy expenditure, that this contribution is predominantly anaerobic, and that the composition and abundance of the cecal microbial contents can significantly alter its contribution to energy flux.

Animals

Biomass

Gastrointestinal Microbiome

Mice

Mice, Inbred C57BL

Microbiota

Weight Gain

Details

Title: Subtitle: Gut Microbiota Represent a Major Thermogenic Biomass
Creators: Ruth A Riedl - Baylor College of Medicine
Colin M L Burnett - University of Iowa
Nicole A Pearson - Mayo Clinic
John J Reho - Medical College of Wisconsin
Mohamad Mokadem - University of Iowa
Robert A Edwards - Flinders University
Tammy L Kindel - Medical College of Wisconsin
John R Kirby - Medical College of Wisconsin
Justin L Grobe - Medical College of Wisconsin
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Function (Oxford, England), Vol.2(3), pp.zqab019-zqab019
DOI: 10.1093/function/zqab019
PMID: 33939772
PMCID: PMC8055641
NLM abbreviation: Function (Oxf)
ISSN: 2633-8823
eISSN: 2633-8823
Grant note: T35 HL007485 / NHLBI NIH HHS UL1 TR001436 / NCATS NIH HHS P01 HL084207 / NHLBI NIH HHS
Language: English
Date published: 2021
Academic Unit: Gastroenterology and Hepatology; Internal Medicine
Record Identifier: 9984359572202771

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