QU Xiaohu,CHEN Hui,HUANG Ling, et al. Relationship between the development of spleen deficiency syndrome and the changes of myocardial energy metabolism in rats[J]. JOURNAL OF WEZHOU MEDICAL UNIVERSITY, 2018, 48(4): 251-256.
Abstract：Objective: To explore the developmental changes of energy metabolism in myocardium of the spleen deficiency from light to heavy dynamic process by replicating the rat models of spleen qi deficiency syndrome and spleen deficiency and failure to control circulating blood syndrome. Methods: The rat models of spleen qi deficiency syndrome and spleen deficiency and failure to control circulating blood syndrome were replicated. The levels of ATP, the activity of citrate synthase (CS), the activity of mitochondrial respiratory chain complex (Complex I, Complex II, Complex III, Complex IV), the mtDNA copy number, the expression of COXIV and Cyt-C and their mRNA were measured in the myocardium of the rats. Results: The ATP content and activities of CS, Complex I, Complex II, Complex III, Complex IV, expression of COXIV protein and its mRNA in rats with spleen qi deficiency syndrome and spleen deficiency and failure to control circulating blood syndrome were significantly lower than those in normal rats (P<0.05). The mtDNA copy number and expression of Cyt-C protein and its mRNA in rats with spleen deficiency and failure to control circulating blood syndrome were significantly higher than those in normal rats (P<0.05). The activities of CS and expression of Cyt-C protein and its mRNA in rats with spleen deficiency and failure to control circulating blood syndrome were significantly higher than those in spleen qi deficiency syndrome rats (P<0.05). Conclusion: In the early stage of spleen qi deficiency syndrome in rats, there was no significant change in energy metabolism of the myocardium. Dysfunction of myocardial tissue energy metabolism in rats began to develop with the prolonged course of deficiency in spleen and the changing from spleen qi deficiency syndrome to spleen deficiency and failure to control circulating blood syndrome. The level of ATP was significantly reduced. Tricarboxylic acid cycle electron transport chain related enzyme activity and the expressions of important proteins and genes also changed, indicatin had been adversely affected in the aggravated process of spleen deficiency. It was consistent with the theory of traditional Chinese medicine in that five viscera will not be nourished and gradually become weak in the case of spleen qi deficiency.
