[Effect of regulation of kidney-yin and kidney-yang on hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal-thymus axis in monosodium L-glutamate rats].

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To study the interrelationship between hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal-thymus (HPAT) axis and Kidney-Yang and Kidney-Yin in arcuate nucleus destroyed rats. METHODS: Monosodium glutamate (MSG) 4 mg/g body weight was given subcutaneously to neonatal rats at 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10th day after born to destroy the ARC, and Zuogui pill or Yougui pill (5 g/kg daily) was given respectively by gastrogavage when the model rats entered adulthood. RESULTS: Immunohistochemical staining showed that in the model group the number of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) positive neurons in hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus and anterior pituitary adrenotrophin (ACTH) positive secretory cells, which stained deeply, were more than those in the control group, the adrenal fasciculate zone disturbed with increased cells and obviously dilated sinusoid. The thymus atrophied with lymphocyte proliferation apparently lower, blood corticosterone, ACTH content and hypothalamic CRF level higher in the model than those in the control. Zuogui pill could improve above-mentioned pathophysiologic changes effectively but Yougui pill could not. CONCLUSION: Process of pathophysiology of HPA axis hyperfunction accompanied cell-mediated immunodeficiency may belong to the category of Kidney-Yin Deficiency Syndrome.