Effects of lambda-cyhalothrin on gut microbiota and related bile acid metabolism in mice

BackgroundSince the gut microbiota plays a crucial role in host metabolism and homeostasis, its alterations induced by xenobiotics, such as pesticides, could pose a risk to host health. Our previous in vitro fermentation study showed that pyrethroid pesticides could affect the mouse bacterial community and related bile acid profiles. Hence in the present study, the effects of the selected pyrethroid lambda-cyhalothrin on the intestinal microbial community and its related bile acid metabolism were evaluated in male and female mice. ResultsThe total amount of bile acids in plasma and fecal samples from lambda-cyhalothrin treated mice markedly increased compared to controls, which could be mainly ascribed to the significantly raised proportions of taurine conjugated bile acids in plasma, and the increase in fecal secondary bile acids. In gut microbial profiles, a significantly increased richness of Prevotellacea and a depletion of Lachnospiraceae were found at the family level upon the treatment with lambda-cyhalothrin. ConclusionTreatment of mice with lambda-cyhalothrin affected the gut microbiota with accompanying changes in bile acid homeostasis. The effects on fecal bile acid profiles were in line with those previously observed in our in vitro study and corroborate that pyrethroid pesticides could affect gut microbiota and related bile acid profiles.