补益中药对老龄雄性大鼠下丘脑神经递质——甲状腺轴机能作用的研究

EFFECT OF TONIFYING HERBS ON NEUROTRANSMITTER OF THE HYPOTHALAMUS-PIYUITARY-THYROID AXIS IN AGING MALE RATS

本文通过对3月龄、18月龄、24月龄雄性大鼠下丘脑去甲肾上腺素(NE)、多巴胺(DA)、5-羟色胺(5-HT)、5-羟吲哚乙酸(5-HIAA),和下丘脑垂体促甲状腺释放激素(TRH)、垂体、血甲状腺释放激素(TSH)、血甲状腺激素(T_3、T_4)的测定,研究了大鼠下丘脑神经递质与甲状腺轴机能的增龄性变化,并在此基础上探讨了补益中药对老龄大鼠下丘脑—垂体—甲状腺机能的作用。结果提示:老龄大鼠下丘脑机能的减退是甲状腺轴机能减退的重要原因;补益中药可能改善了老龄大鼠下丘脑的调控机能,进而延缓了甲状腺轴机能的老年性变化。

Male rats of different ages were randomly divided into different treatment groups. Results showed that: (1) The pituitary weight in the 18-month-old rats was distinctly higher than in the 3-month-old rats, with a decrease in serum T4 level; (2) The pituitary continued to gain weight in the 24-month-old rats; Hypothalamic NE, DA, TEH, pituitary TEH, TSH and serum TSH, T3, T4 levels in the 24-month-old rats were all distinctly lower than in the 3-month-old rats; (3) Treatment with kidney tonifying and vital energy benefiting prescription delayed increase of pituitary weight and delayed decrease in hypothalamic NE, DA, 5-HT, 5-HIAA, TEH and pituitary TEH levels in the 24-month-old rats. A tendency increase in their pituitary and serum TSH levels was shown after treatment. (4) Treatment with spleen invigorating and the vital energy benefiting prescription also delayed a decrease of hypothalamio NE and 5-HIAA levels in the 24-month-old rats. These indicated that the decline of hypothalamic-funotion with aging was the important reason of pituitary-thyroid axis function decrease. The tonifying herbs might regulate the function of hypothalamus delaying the aging changes of pituitary-thyroid axis.