Photoperiod effects on corticosterone and seasonal clocks in cafeteria-induced obese fischer 344 rats are influenced by gut microbiota

Abstract Seasonal rhythms are gaining attention given their impact on metabolic disorders development such as obesity gut microbiota is emerging as a key factor in mediating this link. However, the underlying mechanisms are still poorly understood. In this regard, corticosterone may play a role as it has been shown to be affected by gut bacteria and seasonal rhythms, and has been linked to obesity. Thus, this study aimed to investigate if seasonal rhythms effects on corticosterone are influenced by gut microbiota in obese rats and whether this may be related to seasonal and clock genes expression in the pituitary gland and colon. Fischer 344 male rats fed with cafeteria diet (CAF) were housed under different photoperiods for 9 weeks and treated with an antibiotic cocktail (ABX) in drinking water during the last 4 weeks. Rats fed with standard chow and CAF-fed rats without ABX were included as controls. ABX altered gut microbiota, corticosterone levels and seasonal clock expression in the pituitary depending on photoperiod conditions. These results suggest a link between gut bacteria, seasonal rhythms and corticosterone and a novel nutrigenomic target for obesity.