Alcohol is the most widely used substance among Americans, including adolescents and adults. Adult binge drinking and high alcohol consumption increase risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Alcohol consumption causes dysbiotic changes in the composition and bacterial metabolites of gut microbiota, suggesting that microbiome changes may underlie alcohol-induced risk for type 2 diabetes. Most published studies on the relationship between alcohol consumption and composition/function of microbiome are conducted in adult animals. Given the increasing prevalence of type 2 diabetes in adolescents and high rates of alcohol abuse during this period, it is likely that this relationship may exist at earlier ages. The purpose of this project is to determine if alcohol exposure during adolescence influences the composition and function of gut microbiome, leading to metabolic changes indicative of diabetes risk that may be extended to adulthood. I use an established rat model of binge intoxication to test the hypothesis that adolescent intermittent ethanol (AIE) treatment affects gut microbiota and their microbial metabolites, resulting in immediate and persistent dysfunction in glucose regulation. Long Evans rats (5 groups, n = 8/group) at 4 weeks of age receive AIE or isocaloric dextrose control (CON) treatment for 4 weeks when rats are young adults or for 10 weeks when rats are adults. Glucose and insulin levels and sensitivity as well as liver functions are examined and compared immediately before and after 4 weeks or 10 weeks of treatment. Fecal samples are collected weekly for fecal microbiome analysis using high-throughput integrated 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing and cecal levels of neurotransmitters are determined using ELISA. The results show that After 4 weeks of alcohol exposure, bacterial relative distribution is different; after additional 6 weeks of alcohol exposure, bacterial relative distribution is similar, compared to control rats at the same ages. However, whether or not liver function or glucose regulation are affected is unknown, which will be examined. After alcohol exposure, neurotransmitter serotonin and glutamate are different compared to control rats at the same ages. The nervous system is still developing during adolescence. Behavioral response may be changed, which is worth further investigation.
Author: RhayAuna Dent
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Haifei Shi Department of Biology
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