Qishen granules regulate intestinal microecology to improve cardiac function in rats with heart failure

Figures

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  Figure 1. QSG improved cardiac function and reduced pathological changes in HF rats. (A) Sham group. (B) Model group. (C) Qishen granule group. (D) TMZ group. (E–L) LVEF, LVFS, LVAW;d, LVAW;s, LVID;d, LVID;s, LVPW;d, and LVPW;s N = 6 per group. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001 vs. model group.

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  Figure 2. HE (A–D) and Masson (E–H) staining. (A/E) Sham group. (B/F) Model group. (C/G) Qishen granule group. (D/H) Trimetazidine group. Blue arrowheads indicate the intercellular space and green arrowheads indicate inflammatory infiltration (A–D). Blue-stained fiber indicates collagen deposition (E–H). Scale bar = 100 μm.

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  Figure 3. Transmission electron microscopy of myocardial tissue. (A) Sham group. (B) Model group. (C) Qishen granule group. (D) Trimetazidine group.

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  Figure 4. HE staining of ileum tissue. (A) Sham group. (B) Model group. (C) Qishen granule group. (D) Trimetazidine group. Blue arrowheads indicate the epithelium and green arrowheads indicate the ileum villi. Scale bar = 200 μm.

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  Figure 5. OTUs, Venn, and alpha microbial analysis. (A) Venn result of microbial analysis on the level of OTUs. (B) Venn result of microbial analysis on the level of genus. (C) Community richness. (D) Community diversity. N = 10 per group; QSG, Qishen granule; TMZ, trimetazidine.

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  Figure 6. PLS-DA and percent of community abundance among the four groups. (A) PLS-DA analysis of the phylum level. (B) PLS-DA analysis of the genus level. (C) Percent of community abundance on the phylum level. (D) Percent of community abundance on the genus level.

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  Figure 7. LEfSe and phenotype prediction among the four groups. (A) LEfSe analysis. (C) LPS detection. (B, D) Phenotype prediction. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01; QSG, Qishen granule; TMZ, trimetazidine.