New study of intestinal bacteria grow in pregnant women

Gestation is accompanied by alterations in the microbiome – the bacteria which live inside and on our bodies, weighing on the pounds of our body weight, and playing an important role in health and in fighting disease. Previous research that is focused on the microbiome showed that during pregnancy is a very important factor for weight gain and for essential inflammatory response. However, the mechanisms driving these changes are unknown.

A new study published Wednesday in Cell Reports found that progesterone regulates the microbial composition of bacteria during pregnancy

The study was conducted by Dr. Omry Koren of the Azrieli Faculty of Medicine together with Prof. Yoram Louzon of the Department of Mathematics at Bar-Ilan University, together with researchers from Beilinson Hospital.

The investigated studies in the field of pregnancy and pregnancy in the early 1980s, including an increase in the relative abundance of Bifidobacterium. These bacteria are crucial for infants because they metabolize healthy sugars in bad milk that are important for babies' growth. They also contain probiotic capabilities. Previous research has shown that a lack of increase Bifidobacterium during pregnancy correlates with preterm delivery.

The researchers, led by Koren, reported that an increase in the incidence of inflammatory response. They also recorded an increase in other bacteria, but Bifidobacterium was the only one that was identical to pregnancy in mice. When they imitated pregnancy in mice (using progesterone) they again found that Bifidobacterium increased, leading them to that Bifidobacterium somehow senses progesterone and reacts to it. When the researchers used progesterone in vitro, they again found that Bifidobacterium increased rapidly. This led them to that Bifidobacterium senses and responds to progesterone.

"Our results delineate a model in which progesterone promotes growth Bifidobacterium during late pregnancy. The hormones and intestinal tract, as mentioned above, are included in the progesterone supplementation as a component of fertility treatments or in menopausal women, "said Dr. Koren.

What are the hormones and what effect they have?

This research is funded by the Israel Science Foundation, the Israel Ministry of Health, the Minerva Foundation, the Marie Curie FP7, an Alon Fellowship, and a Carbado Fellowship.