| Objective To investigate the changes in the structure and function of intestinal flora in glucocorticoid inducted osteoporosis model in rats with 16S rRNA sequence analysis. Methods Twenty Wistar rats were randomly divided into the model group (group K, n=10) and normal group (group MY, n=10). Rats in model group were induced to osteoporosis with glucocorticoid. Rats in normal group were raised normally. After 8 weeks, 4 rats in each group was randomly selected and their feces was collected. The total DNA and sample quality of the feces, the OTU analysis of the intestinal flora, the Shannon diversity index curve analysis, the NMDS analysis, and the 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing were performed. Qualitative analysis of bacteria in the specimen and predictive analysis of 16SrRNA functional genes were conducted. Results Sample quality control and formaldehyde denaturing agarose gel electrophoresis showed that the sample quality was qualified. K group and MY group contained 575 common OUT data. There were 12 different OTU data in group K and group MY. When the Shannon diversity index was 3-4, the number of sequencing strips extracted from each sample tended to be saturated. NMDS analysis showed that the stress was 0.05 and less than 0.2. Compared with that in the normal group, the diversity of the intestinal flora in the model group increased. The function was mainly based on cell motion, energy production and conversion, defense mechanisms, transcription, carbohydrate transport, and metabolism. Conclusion The intestinal microflora in glucocorticoids-induced osteoporosis rats have changed greatly in diversity, structure, and function. The imbalance of intestinal microecological cell movement, energy production and conversion, defense, transcription, carbohydrate transport, and metabolism may be one of the pathogenesis of osteoporosis induced by glucocorticoids. |