BioProject

Gut microbiota is extremely important for the health of pregnant mammals, including nutrient acquisition, immune programming, and metabolic regulation. However, the knowledge on the shifts of gut microbiota and blood metabolites during different stages of pregnancy is still insufficient. Here, we investigated the shifts of backfat thickness, plasma and feces metabolites, and gut microbiota on days 30, 60, 90, and 110 of pregnancy and on day 21 after parturition (weaning) in sows. The backfat thickness of sows was not significant different on different stages. The plasma concentrations of lipid metabolites, including triacylglycerol, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, and calcium were reduced (P < 0.05) during pregnancy. In addition, these concentrations reached the most at the time of weaning except triacylglycerol. We also found that Tenericutes, Fibrobacteres, and Cyanobacteria varied significantly with different stage of sows (P < 0.05). Most of genera increased (P < 0.05) with the progress of pregnancy, and decreased (P < 0.05) at weaning, such as Clostridiales, Desulfovibrio, Mogibacteriaceae, and Prevotella. Alpha diversity values (i.e., Shannon diversity and observed species) of sow gut microbiota increased (P < 0.05) from pregnancy to weaning. Pregnancy stages also significantly influenced (P < 0.05) the community structure (beta diversity) of gut microbiota. The progression of pregnancy is associated with changes of lipid metabolism and several carbohydrate-degradation bacteria (i.e., Prevotella, Succinivibrio, Bacteroides, and Parabacteroides). In addition, specific gut microbial taxa were associated with bacterial metabolites. These findings suggest that increased gut microbial diversity and beneficial microbes are associated with the metabolism of pregnant sows. Thus, manipulation of the sow gut microbiota composition may have the potential to influence the pregnancy metabolism and health.