Combined heat and exercise stress disrupt gut microbiota and promote microbial translocation

PurposeThe incidence of exertional heat stroke (EHS) has increased markedly in recent decades. Although intestinal barrier dysfunction and gut microbiota alterations are increasingly implicated in EHS pathophysiology, the respective contributions of heat exposure and physical exercise to these processes remain incompletely defined.MethodsMale C57BL/6 mice were assigned to Control (C), Exercise (E), Heat shock (H), or Exercise + Heat shock (HE) groups. Exercise and/or heat exposure were applied t