Runchangningshen paste activates NLRP6 inflammasome-mediated autophagy to stimulate colonic mucin-2 secretion and modulates mucosal microbiota in functional constipation

Figure 3 Runchangningshen paste alleviated the impairment effect of functional constipation on the colonic mucosal layer and the mucin production. A: Representative image of hematoxylin and eosin staining (× 200 magnification). The yellow arrows indicate the mucosal epithelial cells, the red circles indicate the goblet cells, the green zones indicate the colonic crypts, the orange boxes indicate the fibrous tissue, and the blue circles indicate the glands; B: Representative image of Alcian blue-periodic acid-schiff staining (× 200 magnification). Purple-pink indicates mucin. FC: Functional constipation model group; HRCNSP: High dose of runchangningshen paste group; LAC: Lactulose group; LRCNSP: Low dose of runchangningshen paste group; MRCNSP: Medium dose of runchangningshen paste group; NC: Normal control group.