Chinese Journal of Clinical Anatomy ›› 2023, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (3): 296-303.doi: 10.13418/j.issn.1001-165x.2023.3.09

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Correlation between learning and memory ability and gut microbiota structure in mice induced by high-altitude hypoxia

Li Wenhao1,2, Qi Baoning1, Shi Yi2, Wang Yuhao3, Zhao Zaihua2, Wang Yu1,2, Shen Xuefeng2*   

  1. 1. School of Public Health, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xianyang 712046, China;  2. Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Preventive Medicine, Air Force Medical University, Xi’an 710032, China; 3. Department of Digestive Surgery, Xijing Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi’an 710032, China
  • Received:2022-10-10 Online:2023-05-25 Published:2023-06-05

Abstract: Objective    To investigate the characteristic changes of learning and memory function, gut microbiota and their correlation in high-altitude hypoxia.    Methods    C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into a control group and a hypoxia group, with 7 mice in each group. The hypoxia group simulated at an altitude of 4000 meters exposure for 4 weeks.  The open field test, the novel object recognition and Morris water maze were used to detect the autonomous activity, anxiety- and depression-like and the learning and memory ability of the mice. 16S rDNA and Spearman correlation coefficient were used to detect the structural changes of gut microbiota and analyze the correlation between cognition and gut microbiota of the mice.    Results    Compared with the control group, the discrimination index and the percentage of time in the target quadrant were decreased significantly in hypoxia group (P<0.05). The structure of gut microbiota changed and the diversity decreased. The relative abundance of Akkermansia, Alistipes, Enterorhabdus and Ruminococcus increased at the genus level. The discrimination index and the percentage of time in the target quadrant were significantly positively correlated with α diversity (P<0.05), The discrimination index was negatively correlated with the relative abundance of Akkermansia and Alistipes (R= -0.709, -0.604, P<0.05). The percentage of time in the target quadrant was negatively correlated with the relative abundance of Akkermansia, Alistipes, and Ruminococcus (R= -0.704, -0.560, -0.547, P<0.05).   Conclusions   The exposure of high-altitude hypoxia causes the structural changes of intestinal flora in mice. The increased relative abundance of Akkermansia, Alistipes and Ruminococcus is correlated with the decreased learning and memory ability in mice.

Key words: High-altitude hypoxia; ,  , Gut microbiota; ,  , Learning and memory; ,  Cognitive Dysfunctions; ,  , Correlation analysis

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