Progesterone Increases Bifidobacterium Relative Abundance during Late Pregnancy

• Main Authors: Meital Nuriel-Ohayon, Hadar Neuman, Oren Ziv, Anna Belogolovski, Yiftah Barsheshet, Naamah Bloch, Atara Uzan, Roey Lahav, Avi Peretz, Sigal Frishman, Moshe Hod, Eran Hadar, Yoram Louzoun, Orly Avni, Omry Koren
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2019-04-01
• Series: Cell Reports
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S221112471930405X

Summary: Gestation is accompanied by alterations in the microbial repertoire; however, the mechanisms driving these changes are unknown. Here, we demonstrate a dramatic shift in the gut microbial composition of women and mice during late pregnancy, including an increase in the relative abundance of Bifidobacterium. Using in-vivo-transplanted pellets, we found that progesterone, the principal gestation hormone, affects the microbial community. The effect of progesterone on the richness of several bacteria species, including Bifidobacterium, was also demonstrated in vitro, indicating a direct effect. Altogether, our results delineate a model in which progesterone promotes Bifidobacterium growth during late pregnancy. : Nuriel-Ohayon et al. demonstrate a dramatic shift in the gut microbial composition of women and mice during late pregnancy, including an increase in the relative abundance of Bifidobacterium. Using in vitro and in vivo experiments, they show that supplementation of progesterone affects the microbial communities, including increasing the relative abundance of Bifidobacterium. Keywords: progesterone, Bifidobacterium, pregnancy, gut microbiota, 16S rRNA, microbiome