Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 7, 2025
DNBS/TNBS Colitis Models: Providing Insights Into Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Effects of Dietary Fat
Published on: February 27, 2014
Altered gut microbial profiles in drug-treated rats with alcoholic heart disease
Siang Wei1,2,3, Yan Feng1, Ai Meng1
1College of Life and Science, Shanxi Agricultural University, Shanxi 030801, PR China.
Insights
Shen Song Yang Xin (SSYX) improved cardiac function and gut microbiota in rats with alcoholic heart disease (AHD). This traditional Chinese medicine may offer a therapeutic option for AHD by protecting against alcohol-induced heart injury.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Gastroenterology
- Microbiology
Background:
- Alcohol abuse is a leading cause of cardiac injury, termed Alcoholic Heart Disease (AHD).
- The relationship between cardiac health and gut microbiota in alcohol consumption remains unclear.
- Understanding microbial regulatory mechanisms of AHD treatments is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of Shen Song Yang Xin (SSYX) capsule and amiodarone on cardiac injury and gut microbiota in an AHD rat model.
- To explore the therapeutic potential and microbial mechanisms of SSYX in AHD.
Main Methods:
- Established an AHD rat model through alcohol consumption.
- Evaluated body weight, cardiac function, and gut morphology.
- Analyzed gut microbiota composition using sequencing.
Main Results:
- Alcohol consumption induced cardiac fibrosis and altered gut microbiota, increasing Actinobacteria.
- SSYX attenuated cardiac fibrosis, improved cardiac function, and enhanced intestinal barrier integrity (ZO-1, occludin).
- Both SSYX and amiodarone modulated gut microbiota composition, with correlated effects.
Conclusions:
- SSYX demonstrates a protective role against alcohol-induced heart injury in rats.
- SSYX improves cardiac function, intestinal morphology, and gut microbiota in AHD.
- SSYX and amiodarone show potential as therapeutic options for AHD, with specific microbial changes as potential biomarkers.
Abstract:
Introduction. Alcohol abuse can lead to significant cardiac injury, resulting in Alcoholic heart disease (AHD). The interplay between cardiac health and gut microbiota composition in the context of alcohol consumption is not well understood.Hypothesis. Shen Song Yang Xin (SSYX) capsule and amiodarone are common drugs used to treat alcoholic heart disease, but little is known about their microbial regulatory mechanisms in alcoholic heart disease.Aim. To investigate the effects of SSYX and amiodarone on cardiac injury and gut microbiota composition in a rat model of AHD induced by alcohol consumption.Methodology. We evaluated body weight, cardiac function, changes in gut morphology, and gut microbiota composition to assess the effects of SSYX and amiodarone on AHD.Results. Alcohol consumption significantly reduced body weight and aggravated cardiac fibrosis. However, SSYX attenuated fibrosis and improved cardiac function. SSYX also improved intestinal morphological changes caused by chronic alcoholism and activated the expression of ZO-1 and occludin, which are important in maintaining intestinal barrier function. The gut microbiota composition was altered in rats with AHD, with an increase in Actinobacteria abundance. Both SSYX and amiodarone affected the gut microbiota composition, and their effects were positively correlated. SSYX plays a protective role against heart injury caused by alcohol consumption. It improves cardiac function, intestinal morphological changes and gut microbiota composition.Conclusion. SSYX and amiodarone may have potential therapeutic options for AHD. Actinobacteria/Firmicutes ratio and the abundance of Christensenellaceae R7 group, norank_flachnospiraceae and Roseburia may serve as potential biomarkers for detecting alcoholic heart disease.
