Simulation of the rat intestinal ecosystem using a two-stage continuous culture system.

To investigate the ecological mechanisms governing the community structure of the gut microbial ecosystem, we have attempted to simulate the rat gut ecosystem in vitro using a two-stage continuous culture. Extensive sampling of the rat hindgut has established a set of criteria with which the in vitro system may be compared. This paper discusses one of the criteria, the community composition and structure in vivo and in vitro. The experiments indicated that a gut microbial ecosystem could be satisfactorily mimicked in vitro. This was achieved using a two-stage continuous culture employing differential selection of species between the two stages on the basis of pH differences combined with cell recycling between stages.