Journal of biological regulators and homeostatic agentsJun 18, 2019

Short chain fatty acids help gut bacteria increase melatonin receptor levels in the colon

Circadian Biology Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗

Updated Mar 27, 2026

Abstract

Fecal microbiota transplantation significantly increased the expression of colonic melatonin receptors in germ-free rats.

Microbial communities were analyzed using 16S rRNA sequencing after fecal transplantation.
Short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) were found in significantly higher amounts in the fecal microbiota transplantation rats compared to germ-free rats.
SCFA-producing bacteria, like Alistipes and Blautia, showed a positive correlation with colonic melatonin receptor expression in the transplantation group.
Acetate and propionate enhanced melatonin receptor-1 expression in cultured intestinal cells.
The gut microbiota may influence melatonin receptor expression through mechanisms related to SCFAs.

Simplified

Melatonin plays an important role in various gut functions through melatonin receptors. The gut microbiota/gut hormone axis has recently received increasing attention. However, the relationship between the gut microbiota and melatonin receptors has not yet been evaluated. We aimed to determine the effect of the gut microbiota on colonic melatonin receptor expression in germ-free (GF) rats and to further explore the potential mechanism in Caco-2 cells. In this study, GF rats were transplanted with fecal samples from a healthy human donor. Subsequently, 16S rRNA sequencing was performed to analyze the microbial communities. Colon tissue was collected for immunohistochemical analysis. The correlations between melatonin receptor expression and the gut microbiota were assessed. Melatonin receptor expression in Caco-2 cells was detected by Western blot. We found that fecal microbiota transplantation significantly increased the expression of colonic melatonin receptors in GF rats. The amount of fecal Short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) was significantly higher in fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) rats than in GF rats. SCFA-producing bacteria, such as Alistipes and Blautia, were positively correlated with colonic melatonin receptor expression in FMT rats. Additionally, acetate and propionate significantly increased melatonin receptor-1 expression in Caco-2 cells. Therefore, the gut microbiota may promote melatonin receptor expression, and the mechanism may involve the action of SCFAs. This finding may facilitate the development of new therapeutic treatments for various gastrointestinal disorders.

Short chain fatty acids help gut bacteria increase melatonin receptor levels in the colon

Abstract

You found one interesting study. We’ll send the next 7.

what lands in your inbox each week:

Recent issues from the circadian biology brief

Abstract

Related papers

You found one interesting study. We’ll send the next 7.

what lands in your inbox each week:

Recent issues from the circadian biology brief