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Dryad

Cadmium exposure induces changes in intestinal microbial structure and metabolic function in long-tailed hamsters (Cricetulus longicaudatus)

Abstract

Many studies have shown that exposure to heavy metals can disrupt the diversity and composition of the gut microbiota, resulting in a significant decrease in gut microbial richness but the broader ecological reality is lacking. In this study, we comprehensively evaluated the effects of exposure to 6 mg/L、12 mg/L、24 mg/L and 48 mg/L Cd in drinking water for 35 days on the intestinal microbiota of long-tailed hamsters, Cricetulus longicaudatus (Rodentia: Cricetidae). The results suggest that Cd exposure induces changes in intestinal morphology in Cricetulus longicaudatus that may increase intestinal permeability and inflammation, but their body weight instead increases. These changes were accompanied by significant perturbations of the gut microbiota, resulting in significant alterations in microbial abundance. Additionally, Cd exposure induced significant changes in the metabolic functions of the gut microbiota, with over half of the metabolic functions in the Cd-treated group showing a significant decrease compared to the control group. These changes included essential metabolic pathways such as cysteine, methionine, and lysine biosynthesis and degradation, as well as metabolic functions related to carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. The pathways related to disease and environmental information processing showed significant increases, particularly in the repair system and phosphotransferase system. This study can be used as a new approach to comprehend the stress response of wild mammals to Cd exposure, and to further assess the significant impact of Cd pollution on ecosystems by investigating the structural and functional changes in their digestive system and the disruption of gut microbiota.