Developmental Stage, Solid Food Introduction and Suckling Cessation Differentially Influence the Co-maturation of the Gut Microbiota and Intestinal Epithelium in Rabbits.

In rabbits, the maturation of the microbiota at the suckling-to-weaning transition is driven by the introduction of solid food and to a lesser extent by developmental stage. In contrast, the maturation of the intestinal epithelium at the suckling-to-weaning transition is under the influence of developmental stage, solid food introduction and suckling cessation.