Rat model for study of the essence of spleen deficiency and dampness in Chinese medicine

Objective: To explore the essence of spleen deficiency and dampness in Chinese medicine by successfully constructing a rat model with this syndrome. Methods: Rat models with the syndrome of dampness and spleen deficiency were established with the use of a highfat, lowprotein diet and excessive fatigue induced by loaded swimming. A total of 25 common clinical serological markers were tested. The T test, rank test, and partial least squares regressiondiscriminant analysis were used to analyze the data. Results: Total protein, albumin, motilin, interferonγ, interleukin2, immunoglobulin A, immunoglobulin G, and complement 3 levels in the model rats were lower than those in the control group (P=0.029, P=0.032, P lt;0.001, P lt;0.001, P lt;0.001, P lt;0.001, P lt;0.001, P lt;0.001, respectively). The serum creatinine, total cholesterol, aldosterone, antidiuretic hormone, gastrin, interleukin4, somatostatin, atrial natriuretic peptide, and vasoactive intestinal peptide levels in the model group were higher than those in the control group (P lt;0.001, P=0.015, P lt;0.001, P lt;0.001, P lt;0.001, P lt;0.001, P lt;0.001, P lt;0.001, P lt;0.001, respectively). There was no statistical difference between the two groups in aspartate transaminase, alanine aminotransferase, globulin, albumin/globulin, blood urea nitrogen, highdensity lipoprotein, and lowdensity lipoprotein. The model animal syndrome used two important variables in analysis with partial least squares regressiondiscriminant analysis. At the same time, the two dimensions were difficult to distinguish for each biological index. Conclusion: Spleen deficiency is often associated with dampness. The index that represents spleen deficiency can also represent dampness. Cytokines, immunoglobulins, and gastrointestinal hormones play a major causative role in both spleen deficiency and dampness.