Electroacupuncture modulates the intestinal microecology to improve intestinal motility in spinal cord injury rats.

ABSTRACT: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a disease involving gastrointestinal disorders. The underlying mechanisms of the potential protective effects of electroacupuncture (EA) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) system on SCI remain unknown. We investigated whether EA improves gut microbial dysbiosis in SCI and regulates the 5-HT system. 16S rDNA gene sequencing was applied to investigate alterations in the gut microbiome of the rats. Faecal metabolites and the expression of the 5-HT system were detected. EA and faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) treatment facilitated intestinal transmission functional recovery and restored the colon morphology of SCI rats. The composition of the intestinal microbiota, including numbers of phylum Proteobacteria, class Clostridia, order Bacteroidales, and genus Dorea,

SUBMITTER: Cheng J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8913878 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature