Open AccessGeneral Anesthesia Alters the Diversity and Composition of the Intestinal Microbiota in Mice
Author(s) -
Mara A. Serbanescu,
Reilley Paige Mathena,
Jing Xu,
Tasha M. Santiago-Rodríguez,
Theresa L. Hartsell,
Raúl J. Cano,
C. David Mintz
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
anesthesia and analgesia/anesthesia and analgesia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.404
H-Index - 201
eISSN - 1526-7598
pISSN - 0003-2999
DOI - 10.1213/ane.0000000000003938
Subject(s) - dysbiosis , clostridiales , intestinal microbiome , microbiome , isoflurane , medicine , immune system , immunology , gut flora , microbiology and biotechnology , bacteria , anesthesia , biology , bioinformatics , 16s ribosomal rna , genetics
Dysbiosis of the intestinal microbiota has been shown to result in altered immune responses and increased susceptibility to infection; as such, the state of the intestinal microbiome may have profound implications in the perioperative setting. In this first-in-class study, we used 16s ribosomal RNA sequencing and analysis in a mouse model of general anesthesia to investigate the effects of volatile anesthetics on the diversity and composition of the intestinal microbiome. After 4-hour exposure to isoflurane, we observed a decrease in bacterial diversity. Taxonomic alterations included depletion of several commensal bacteria including Clostridiales. These data identify volatile anesthetics as potential contributors to microbial dysbiosis in the postoperative patient.