OBJECTIVE

To investigate the changes of neuropeptides content in a rat model of spleen-deficiency syndrome.

METHODS

Rats were randomly divided into three groups: normal group, untreated group and treatment group. There were ten rats in each group. Spleen-deficiency syndrome was induced by intragastrically administration of rhubarb concentrate in rats of the untreated and treatment group. The rats in the treatment group were intragastrically administered with Sijunzi decoction, a traditional Chinese compound herbal medicine for strengthening spleen and supporting qi. Normal saline was intragastrically administered to the rats in the normal and untreated groups. The somatostatin (SS) and cholecystokinin-8 (CCK-8) content in hypothalamus and colons was detected by the method of radioimmunoassay and the D-xylose content in urine was also detected.

RESULTS

The CCK-8 content in hypothalamus of the untreated group was higher than that of the normal group (P<0.05). SS and CCK-8 content in colons of the untreated group was higher than that of the normal group (P<0.05). The CCK-8 content in colons of the untreated group was lower than that of the treatment group (P<0.05). The excretion rate of D-xylose in the untreated group was lower than that of the normal group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

The disorder of neuroendocrine regulation in rats with spleen-deficiency syndrome may be chiefly responsible for "spleen-deficency and dysfunction of spleen" in traditional Chinese medicine.