Animal study reveals impaired osmoregulation and organ hydration after hemorrhagic shock in dysbiotic rat offspring, indicating lasting vulnerability from early antibiotic exposure.
Key Points
To evaluate whether maternal antibiotic-induced gut dysbiosis alters systemic osmoregulation, renal metabolic responses, and organ fluid retention during hemorrhagic shock in rat offspring.
Pregnant and lactating Sprague Dawley dams received amoxicillin and vancomycin, with antibiotic treatment continuing in male offspring until 8 weeks of age.
Following a 4-week antibiotic washout period, 12-week-old male offspring were subjected to fixed-volume hemorrhagic shock (1.5 mL/100 g body weight) to measure serum biochemistry and organ wet weights.
Dysbiotic offspring exhibited persistent hypernatremia and hyperchloremia (both p < 0.001) alongside significantly higher calculated serum osmolarity (p = 0.030) compared to controls.
Blood urea nitrogen and creatinine concentrations were significantly reduced in dysbiotic offspring (both p < 0.01), indicating an attenuated metabolic and renal adaptive response.
Lung and brain wet weights were significantly lower in dysbiotic offspring (p = 0.002 and p = 0.01, respectively), while kidney and heart wet weights showed no significant differences.