Dynamics of short-chain fatty acids and aromatic microbial metabolites in rat blood serum during sulfur mustard intoxication

Introduction. The previously obtained data indicate pronounced critical disturbances of enteral homeostasis (barrier, motor-evacuation, secretory-absorption and digestive disfunctions of the intestine) during sulfur mustard intoxication. Obviously, against this background, the habitat of the intestinal microbiota changes significantly, which can lead to significant changes in the content of short-chain fatty acids and aromatic microbial metabolites both at the local level and in the systemic bloodstream. The aim of the work is to study the metabolomic profile of short-chain fatty acids and aromatic microbial metabolites in the blood serum of rats in the dynamics of sulfur mustard intoxication. Material and methods. Four experimental groups of rats were intramuscularly administered sulfur mustard at a dose of 1.0 LD50. On days 1, 2, 3 and 4 after the introduction of the toxicant, the quantitative content of acetic, propionic, butyric, valerianic, 4-hydroxyphenylacetic, phenylpropionic, 3-phenyllactic and p-hydroxyphenyllactic acids was determined in the blood serum by High performance liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS). Similar indicators were determined in the blood serum of the control group of animals. Results. A decrease in the content of all studied short-chain fatty acids was recorded starting from the first day after the introduction of the toxicant in comparison with similar indicators of the control group. Analysis of the quantitative content of aromatic microbial metabolites revealed an increase in serum concentrations of hydroxyphenylacetic and phenyllactic acids, most pronounced by the 3rd–4th day of sulfur mustard intoxication. Limitations. Analytical studies of samples do not apply to environmental objects, and the methodological possibilities of their interpretation are limited by the chemical nature of analytes. Conclusion. This paper presents for the first time the results of studying the metabolomic profile (the content of short-chain fatty acids and aromatic microbial metabolites) of rat blood serum in the dynamics of sulfur mustard intoxication. Analysis of the obtained results allows us to speak about pronounced microecological changes in the gastrointestinal tract after the introduction of sulfur mustard, and a decrease in the content of short-chain fatty acids, with a simultaneous increase in the level of hydroxyphenylacetic and phenyllactic acids, may have an important patho- and thanatogenetic significance.