| Objective To investigate the regulatory mechanism of FTZ inhibiting bone loss in ovariectomized (OVX) mice based on the changes of gut microbiota. Methods Eighteen 11-week-old C57BL6/J female mice were randomly divided into three groups: SHAM group (n=6) and OVX group (n=6) received an equal dose of 0.9% NaCl in the same manner; FTZ group (n=6) received FTZ at a dose of 1.55 g/kg/d via oral gavage. After 12 weeks of intervention, the outcomes were changes in bone microstructures as measured by Micro-CT scanning analysis, serum parameters (TNF-α, IL-10, IL-6, LPS and TRACP5b) and gut microbiota were measured by ELISA and 16S rRNA sequencing respectively. Results Compared with SHAM group, BV/TV, Tb.N, BMD and concentration of IL-10 were significantly decreased (P<0.05); Tb.Sp and concentration of TNF-α, IL-6, LPS and TRACP5b were significantly increased (P<0.05) in OVX group. The Tb.N and IL-10 were significantly increased (P<0.05), Tb.Sp, TNF-α, IL-6 and TRACP5b were significantly decreased in FTZ group compared with OVX group (P<0.05). At the phylum level, there was an increasing trend in F/B ratio (P =0.310) in OVX group compared with SHAM group. F/B ratio was significantly lower in FTZ group compared with OVX group (P=0.002). At the genus level, Faecalibaculum and Coriobacteriaceae_UCG-002 were significantly decreased (P=0.030, P=0.005) and Lachnoclostridium was significantly increased (P=0.037) in OVX group compared with SHAM group. Faecalibaculumand and Coriobacteriaceae_UCG-002 were significantly increased (P=0.045, P=0.005) and Lachnoclostridium was significantly decreased (P=0.013) in FTZ group. Conclusions FTZ can alleviate bone loss in OVX mice may be achieved by regulating the abundance of Faecalibaculum, Coriobacteriaceae_UCG-002 and Lachnoclostridium, meanwhile ameliorating the inflammatory response. |