Hydrogen-rich water alleviates constipation by attenuating oxidative stress through the sirtuin1/nuclear factor-erythroid-2-related factor 2/heme oxygenase-1 signaling pathway

Figure 2 Hydrogen-rich water alleviates loperamide-induced constipation in rats. A: Flow chart of the establishment of the rat model and drug administration; B: Total feces excreted within 24 h; C: Fecal water content on day 7 and 14; D and E: Propulsion rate of carbon through the small intestine of rats; F: Hematoxylin and eosin staining, Alcian blue-periodic acid-Schiff staining, immunohistochemical staining of cell growth factor receptor kit (c-kit) and PGP 9.5; G: Thickness of the mucus layer; H: Mean optical density of c-kit; I: Number of enteric neurons. ^aP < 0.05 vs normal group (Nor), ^bP < 0.01 vs Nor, ^cP < 0.05 vs loperamide-induced constipation group (Lop), ^dP < 0.01 vs Lop. Scale bar: 100 μm. Nor: Normal group; Lop: Loperamide-induced constipation group; HRW: Hydrogen-rich water intervention group; H&E: Hematoxylin and eosin; AB-PAS: Alcian blue-periodic acid-Schiff; c-kit: Cell growth factor receptor kit.