Fecal microbiota transplantation from different pig breeds alters fat deposition and gut microbiota in mice

Abstract Gut microbiota plays a vital role in nutrient digestion, energy metabolism, and immune regulation in pigs. However, the core bacterial species influencing fat deposition remain poorly defined due to the complexity and diversity of the intestinal microbial ecosystem. In this study, healthy Putian Black (PT) pigs and Duroc $$\times $$ × Landrace $$\times $$ × Yorkshire (DLY) pigs of similar ages were used as fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) donors, with male ICR mice as recipients. A control group (CM) received saline, while the experimental groups were gavaged fecal suspensions from PT pigs (PM) or DLY pigs (DM). Results showed that intramuscular fat content, triglyceride levels, and adipogenic gene expression ( PPARG, FABP4, LPL, ATGL ) were extremely significant higher in the PM group than in the DM group ( P