Figure 4.

Nicotine exposure in rodent pregnancy induces selective changes in cecal bacterial abundance in Firmicutes, Bacteriodetes, and Actinobacteria phyla. (A) Taxonomic cladogram generated in Galaxy demonstrating shifts in taxonomic groups following nicotine exposure in the virgin versus pregnant rats (P). Each circle represents a bacterial taxon, with its diameter proportional to the taxon’s relative abundance. Yellow circles indicate no change. Colored circles indicate significant changes in abundance relative to other groups. Red—virgin controls; green—virgin nicotine exposed; blue—pregnant controls and purple—pregnant-nicotine exposed data. (B–D) Two-way ANOVA analysis with multiple comparisons was performed and revealed significant differences in order (o_) or species (s_) between groups in the phylum Firmicutes, Bacteriodetes and Actinobactera, as annotated. Values are mean ± SEM; & indicates p < 0.05 between CON in virgin and other groups as indicated; @ indicates p < 0.02 between virgin nicotine versus other groups indicated. n = 6–8 samples per group.