1: FASEB J. 2008 Mar 7. [Epub ahead of print] Gut microbiota modulation with norfloxacin and ampicillin enhances glucose tolerance in mice. Membrez M, Blancher F, Jaquet M, Bibiloni R, Cani PD, Burcelin RG, Corthesy I, Macé K, Chou CJ. *Nestlé Research Center, Lausanne, Switzerland;Université Catholique de Louvain, Unit of Pharmacokinetics, Metabolism, Nutrition and Toxicology, Brussels, Belgium; andInstitute of Molecular Medicine Rangueil (12 MR), INSERM U858, IFR31, Toulouse, France. Recent data suggest that the gut microbiota plays a significant role in fat accumulation. However, it is not clear whether gut microbiota is involved in the pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes. To assess this issue, we modulated gut microbiota via antibiotics administration in two different mouse models with insulin resistance. Results from dose-determination studies showed that a combination of norfloxacin and ampicillin, at a dose of 1g/L, maximally suppressed the numbers of cecal aerobic and anaerobic bacteria in ob/ob mice. After a 2-wk intervention with the antibiotic combination, both ob/ob and diet-induced obese and insulin-resistant mice showed a significant improvement in fasting glycemia and oral glucose tolerance. The improved glycemic control was independent of food intake or adiposity because pair-fed ob/ob mice were as glucose intolerant as the control ob/ob mice. Reduced liver triglycerides and increased liver glycogen correlated with improved glucose tolerance in the treated mice. Concomitant reduction of plasma lipopolysaccharides and increase of adiponectin further supported the antidiabetic effects of the antibiotic treatment in ob/ob mice. In summary, modulation of gut microbiota ameliorated glucose tolerance of mice by altering the expression of hepatic and intestinal genes involved in inflammation and metabolism, and by changing the hormonal, inflammatory, and metabolic status of the host.-Membrez, M., Blancher, F., Jaquet, M., Bibiloni, R., Cani, P. D., Burcelin, R. G., Corthesy, I., Macé, K., Chou, C. J. Gut microbiota modulation with norfloxacin and ampicillin enhances glucose tolerance in mice. PMID: 18326786 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] Related Links The gut-liver-axis: Endotoxemia, inflammation, insulin resistance and NASH. [J Hepatol. 2008] PMID:18468548 Changes in gut microbiota control metabolic endotoxemia-induced inflammation in high-fat diet-induced obesity and diabetes in mice. [Diabetes. 2008] PMID:18305141 Differential effects of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on metabolic control and vascular reactivity in the type 2 diabetic ob/ob mouse. [Metabolism. 2006] PMID:16979408 Characterization of new oral antidiabetic agent CS-045. Studies in KK and ob/ob mice and Zucker fatty rats. [Diabetes. 1988] PMID:3053303 Pioglitazone ameliorates insulin resistance and diabetes by both adiponectin-dependent and -independent pathways. [J Biol Chem. 2006] PMID:16431926