Abstract
The etiology of alcohol dependence is not completely understood. Increasing evidence reveals that gut microbiota dysbiosis is associated with certain psychiatric disorders, including alcoholism, through the "microbiota-gut-brain" axis. The aims of this study were to evaluate the effect of alcohol abuse on the gut microbiota, intestinal permeability and serum metabolic profile and to determine whether alcohol-induced alterations in gut microbiota are correlated with gut permeability and serum metabolic phenotype changes. 16S rRNA gene high-throughput sequencing and nontarget metabolomics techniques were applied in an alcohol-dependent rat model in the present study. The results showed that alcohol intake altered the composition and structure of the colonic microbiota, especially the relative abundances of commensal microbes in the families Lachnospiraceae and Prevotellaceae, which were significantly decreased. Alcohol-dependent rats developed gut leakiness and a serum metabolic phenotype disorder. The valine, leucine and isoleucine biosynthesis pathways and arginine and proline metabolism pathways were obviously influenced by alcohol intake. Moreover, alcohol consumption disturbed the brain's neurotransmitter homeostasis. Regression analysis showed that alcohol-induced colonic microbiota dysbiosis was strongly associated with increased intestinal permeability and serum metabolic phenotype and neurotransmitter disorders. These results revealed that gut microbiota dysbiosis and serum metabolite alteration might be a cofactor for developing of alcohol dependence. IMPORTANCE Gut microbiota dysbiosis is associated with certain psychiatric disorders through the "microbiota-gut-brain" axis. Here, we revealed that alcohol consumption induced colonic microbiota dysbiosis, increased intestinal permeability, and altered the serum metabolic phenotype in rats, and there was a strong correlation between gut microbiota dysbiosis and serum metabolite disorders. Thus, gut microbiota dysbiosis and serum metabolite alteration may be a cofactor for development of alcohol dependence.