中医“肝应春”调控机制与下丘脑褪黑素合成限速酶芳香烷基胺-N-乙酰基转移酶mRNA表达相关性的研究

Research on relevance between the regulation and controlling mechanism of 'Liver corresponding to spring' in TCM and the activity of AANAT mRNA

目的:通过观察下丘脑褪黑素合成限速酶芳香烷基胺-N-乙酰基转移酶(AANAT)mRNA季节变化规律,探讨"肝应春"的调控机制,为季节性情感障碍(SAD)季节性发病的病理生理机制的认识提供实验依据。方法:选用健康雄性叙利亚金黄地鼠分别在二分二至前5周购入,在自然环境下饲养至二分二至之日,取下丘脑检测褪黑素合成限速酶AANAT mRNA表达,观察其变化规律。结果:下丘脑褪黑素合成限速酶AANAT mRNA表达水平依次为夏季组<春季组<秋季组<冬季组,其中夏季组<春季组<秋季组具有显著性差异(P<0.05),秋季组与冬季组相比,虽有秋季组低冬季组高的趋势,但差异无统计学意义。结论:①下丘脑褪黑素合成限速酶AANATmRNA表达存在着季节性的变化规律,这可能是"肝应春"调控机制之一。②SAD季节性发病规律可能与下丘脑AANAT mRNA节律性调节相关。

Objeoive： To provide experimental foundation for understanding the pathological and physiological mechanisms of seasonal attack of seasonal effective disorder （SAD） through observation the seasonal change laws of the activity of AANAT mRNA and discussion the regulation and controlling mechanism of ＇Liver Corresponding to Spring＇ in TCM. Methods： Healthy male LVG Hamsters were respectively selected 5 weeks before Spring Equinox and Autunm Equinox, Summer Solstice and Winter Solstice, and were naturally fed until the four solar terms. Then the hypothalarnus was taken out to test the AANAT mRNA expression and observe their change laws. Results： The expression levels of hypothalamus AANAT mRNA were successively summer group〈spring group〈autumn group〈winter group. Among them, summer group〈spring group〈autumn group had significant difference （P〈0.05）. In comparison of autumn group and winter group, autumn group was lower than winter group, but there was no statistical difference. Conclusion： ①Hypothalamus AANAT mRNA had seasonal change law, which might be caused by the regulation and controlling of ＇Liver corresponding to spring＇. ②The laws of seasonal attack of SAD might be relevant to the rhythmical regulation of hypothalamus AANAT mRNA.