从摘除松果腺大鼠与肝郁大鼠MT、5-HT、NO和免疫功能的变化探讨“肝应春”的作用机制

Mechanism research of ‘liver corresponding to spring' in TCM theory based on the levels of MT, 5-HT, NO and immune function of removing pineal gland and liver depression rats model

目的:探讨中医"肝应春"理论与神经内分泌、免疫调节的关系。方法:选用健康SD大鼠分别在立春、春分前34d进行实验期,随机分为空白组、手术组(松果腺摘除组)、伪手术组、肝郁组。于立春、春分当日取材,检测各组血清中MT、NO、脑中5-HT含量,并计算胸腺、脾脏指数。结果:1立春时,手术组MT含量较空白组明显降低(P<0.01);手术组及肝郁组5-HT含量均较空白组降低(P<0.05);手术组脾脏指数较空白组减小(P<0.01)。2春分时,手术组及肝郁组5-HT均较空白组降低(P<0.05,P<0.01);手术组与肝郁组的胸腺指数与脾脏指数较空白组均明显降低(P<0.01)。3春分与立春比较,空白组、手术组及肝郁组MT均明显下降而5-HT均明显升高(P<0.01);手术组及肝郁组NO均明显升高(P<0.01),胸腺指数及脾脏指数均下降(P<0.05,P<0.01)。结论:立春与春分时节摘除松果腺可产生与肝失疏泄之肝郁证类似的MT、5-HT、NO及免疫功能的变化,并且从立春到春分呈规律性变化,推测可能均与春天阳气渐旺,肝之疏泄功能渐增有关,可能是"肝应春"理论的现代物质基础,并与神经内分泌、免疫调节有关。

Objective： To explore the relationship between ‘liver corresponding to spring＇ in TCM theory and the neuroendocrine-immunity. Methods： Thirty-four days before beginning of spring and vernal equinox, SPF SD rats were randomly divided into the control group, the operated group（removal of the pineal gland model group）, the sham operation group and liver depression syndrome group. At beginning of spring and vernal equinox, the rats were sacrificed. Thymus and spleen of rats were weighed to calculate thymus and spleen index. Meanwhile the levels of brain 5-Hydroxytryptamine（5-HT）, serum melatonin（MT） and nitric oxide（NO） were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay（ELISA）. Results：（1） At beginning of spring, compare to the normal control group, the concentration of serum MT of the operated group decreased significantly（P〈0.01）. The concentration of brain 5-HT of the operated group and liver depression syndrome group decreased, either（P〈0.05）. Meanwhile, spleen index of the operated group decreased significantly（P〈0.01）.（2） At vernal equinox, compared with the normal control group, the concentration of brain 5-HT of the operated group and liver depression syndrome group decreased（P〈0.05, P〈0.01）. Meanwhile, thymus index and the spleen index of the operated group and liver depression syndrome group decreased significantly（P〈0.01）.（3） Compare the concentration of vernal equinox to beginning of spring, serum MT of the normal control group, the operated group and liver depression syndrome group decreased significantly（P〈0.01）, but the concentration of serum 5-HT increased significantly（P〈0.01）. The concentration of brain NO of the operated group and liver depression syndrome group increased significantly（P〈0.01）, but thymus and spleen index decreased（P〈0.05, P〈0.01）. Conclusion： At beginning of spring orvernal equinox, rats model removing the pineal gland have the similar variation of brain 5-HT, serum MT, NO and immunologic function with liver depression syndrome. And the variation shows regularly from beginning of spring to vernal equinox. It may be related with the phenomenon that the yang qi gradually increases and the conveyance and dispersion function of liver gradually increases as well in in the spring. It might be modern material base of ‘liver corresponding to spring＇ theory and has great relationship to the neuroendocrine and immunoregulation.