Hackstein J H, Van Alen T A, Op Den Camp H, Smits A, Mariman E
Dept. Microbiology, Fac. Science, Catholic University of Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Dtsch Tierarztl Wochenschr. 1995 Apr;102(4):152-4.
The presence of significant numbers of intestinal methanogens among vertebrates does neither depend on elaborated morphological structures nor on predominantly plant-based diets. Phylogenetic rather than dietary restrictions limit the occurrence of methanogenic bacteria also in the hindguts of primates. The Old-World monkeys are methanogenic--with the only exceptions of Cheirogaleid lemurs and bush-babies. In contrast, among New World monkeys the lack of intestinal methanogens is observed frequently in capuchins and marmosets. Since the absence of methanogens does not parallel distinct morphological, physiological, or ethological characteristics, it is likely that methanogenesis depends on a hereditary predisposition. In humans, methane-producers account for approximately 50% of the European populations. In this study, 56 individuals belonging to 5 families were studied for the occurrence of methane in the breath. The results of this screen are compatible with the assumption that the trait "methane emission" segregates as an autosomal, dominant character. Our findings suggest a high specificity of the symbiosis between primates and methanogenic bacteria. Therefore, the persistence of significant numbers of methanogens in the hindgut might be facilitated by a specific receptor for methanogenic bacteria.
脊椎动物肠道中存在大量产甲烷菌，既不依赖于精细的形态结构，也不依赖于以植物为主的饮食。系统发育而非饮食限制也限制了产甲烷菌在灵长类动物后肠中的出现。旧世界猴是产甲烷的——唯一的例外是倭狐猴和婴猴。相比之下，在新世界猴中，卷尾猴和狨猴中经常观察到缺乏肠道产甲烷菌。由于产甲烷菌的缺失与明显的形态、生理或行为特征不平行，产甲烷作用很可能依赖于遗传易感性。在人类中，产甲烷者约占欧洲人口的50%。在这项研究中，对来自5个家庭的56个人进行了呼出气体中甲烷存在情况的研究。该筛选结果与“甲烷排放”性状作为常染色体显性性状分离的假设相符。我们的研究结果表明灵长类动物与产甲烷菌之间的共生具有高度特异性。因此，后肠中大量产甲烷菌的持续存在可能由产甲烷菌的特定受体促成。
