Glucocorticoids (GCs) are an important anti-inflammatory drug, used widely, regardless of its side effects. GCs can affect intestinal flora directly or indirectly, though few studies have focused on the changes of gut microbiota composition. In this study, ICR mice were randomly divided into three groups, gavage administration with saline, and different doses of dexamethasone (DEX): 0.1 mg/kg and 1 mg/kg. Five days later, the microbial diversity of the colon contents was analyzed. A significant loss in weight was observed in the DEX1.0 group as compared with the control group (P = 0.011). The gut microbiota richness (ACE, P = 0.01; Chao, P = 0.013) and diversity (Shannon, P = 0.035; Simpson, P = 0.032) were decreased in DEX group. The proportions of genus Butyricicoccus, Oscillibacter, Anaerotruncus, Ruminiclostridium, Ruminococcaceae, and Lachnospiraceae were the most abundant and predominant followed by Lactobacillus, Pseudomonas, and Enterorhabdus. Dex administration led to changes in the liver/body ratio and spleen/body ratio. The results obtained from our study indicate that DEX can decrease the level of WBC and change the structure of the gut microbiota composition; moreover, the results of this study provide new insight into alleviating the clinical side effects of GC therapy.

中文翻译：

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响应地塞米松给药，小鼠肠道菌群发生变化。

糖皮质激素（GCs）是一种重要的抗炎药，无论其副作用如何，均得到广泛使用。气相色谱可以直接或间接影响肠道菌群，尽管很少有研究关注肠道微生物群组成的变化。在这项研究中，将ICR小鼠随机分为三组，分别管饲生理盐水和不同剂量的地塞米松（DEX）：0.1 mg / kg和1 mg / kg。五天后，分析了结肠内容物的微生物多样性。与对照组相比，DEX1.0组的体重明显减轻（P = 0.011）。DEX组肠道微生物丰富度（ACE，P = 0.01； Chao，P = 0.013）和多样性（Shannon，P = 0.035； Simpson，P = 0.032）降低。丁酸球菌，Oscillibacter，Anaerotruncus，Ruminiclostridium，Ruminococcaceae，乳酸杆菌科和乳酸杆菌科是最丰富和主要的，其次是乳杆菌，假单胞菌和肠杆菌。右旋给药导致肝/体比和脾/体比的改变。我们的研究结果表明，DEX可以降低WBC的水平并改变肠道菌群组成的结构。此外，这项研究的结果为减轻GC治疗的临床副作用提供了新的见识。