Objective to investigate the effects of curcumin and/or aerobic exercise on intestinal function in dyslipidemic rats.
Methods Forty five week old male SPF SD rats were randomly divided into normal diet+quiet group (CON group), high-fat diet+quiet group (HDC group), high-fat diet+curcumin+quiet group (HDM group), high-fat diet+aerobic exercise group (HDE group) and high-fat diet+curcumin+aerobic exercise group (HDME group). The high fat diet group was fed with high fat diet, and the normal diet group was fed with maintenance diet. From the third week, 200g/(kg · d) curcumin was given to HDM and HDME groups by gavage, and 0.5% sodium carboxymethyl cellulose was given to other groups by gavage; The HDE and HDME groups performed aerobic exercise with exercise intensity of 70%~75% of the maximum oxygen uptake, and the other groups did not have any exercise intervention. 24 hours after the end of the 6-week intervention, blood was taken from the abdominal aorta, caecum tissue and caecum contents were taken. The blood lipid level was detected by automatic biochemical analyzer; The morphology of cecum was observed after HE staining; Western Blot method was used to detect the protein expression level of zona occludens-1 (ZO-1) in cecum tissues; 16S rDNA gene sequencing technology was used to detect the intestinal flora distribution of cecal contents.
Results Curcumin and/or aerobic exercise could reduce serum total cholesterol and triglyceride in dyslipidemic rats (P<0.05); Upregulation of ZO-1 protein expression in cecum tissue (P<0.05) and improvement of tissue morphology; Improve the diversity and evenness of intestinal flora (P<0.05).
Conclusion Curcumin and/or aerobic exercise can improve the integrity of intestinal mucosal barrier and intestinal function in dyslipidemic rats by effectively regulating intestinal flora. The effect of joint intervention is the best.