biostudies-literatureWu ZScience and Technology Innovation Project of ShaanxiNational Natural Science Foundation of Chinawraf036https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC11964897biostudies-literatureUnknown19(1)Seasonal breeding is an important adaptive strategy for animals. Recent studies have highlighted the potential role of the gut microbiota in reproductive health. However, the relationship between the gut microbiota and reproduction in seasonal breeders remains unclear. In this study, we selected a unique single food source animal, the flying squirrel (Trogopterus xanthipes), as a model organism for studying seasonal breeding. By integrating transcriptomic, metabolomic, and microbiome data, we comprehensively investigated the regulation of the gut-metabolism-testis axis in seasonal breeding. Here, we demonstrated a significant spermatogenic phenotype and highly active spermatogenic transcriptional characteristics in the testes of flying squirrels during the breeding season, which were assocThe ISME journalMicrobiota contribute to regulation of the gut-testis axis in seasonal spermatogenesis.PMC11964897C1704-321727371400-SXLK2023-02Wu ZLiu YTang JDong WJin TYang BChen SWang YDong QLi LGong YYang FfalseMicrobiota contribute to regulation of the gut-testis axis in seasonal spermatogenesis.Seasonal breeding is an important adaptive strategy for animals. Recent studies have highlighted the potential role of the gut microbiota in reproductive health. However, the relationship between the gut microbiota and reproduction in seasonal breeders remains unclear. In this study, we selected a unique single food source animal, the flying squirrel (Trogopterus xanthipes), as a model organism for studying seasonal breeding. By integrating transcriptomic, metabolomic, and microbiome data, we comprehensively investigated the regulation of the gut-metabolism-testis axis in seasonal breeding. Here, we demonstrated a significant spermatogenic phenotype and highly active spermatogenic transcriptional characteristics in the testes of flying squirrels during the breeding season, which were assoc2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 Jan2025-07-14T03:03:03.724Z2025-07-14T03:03:03.724ZS-EPMC119648973999937310.1093/ismejo/wraf036