Objective: To further study the kidney-yang deficiency constitution of Lewis rats by observing the gene expression and ultrastructure related to kidney-yang deficiency in the hypothalamus of Lewis rats.
Methods: The kidney-yang deficiency model of Lewis rats and subcutaneous injection of hydrocortisone were compared, and TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-10, CRH, MR, GR mRNA were detected in the hypothalamus of rats in each group. Expression and ultrastructure observation of hypothalamus and adrenal tissue, etc., to study the mechanism of kidney-yang deficiency in Lewis rats.
Results: Compared with normal Wistar rats, the mRNA expressions of GR and IL-2 in the hypothalamus of Lewis group rats were significantly increased (P<0.01), while the mRNA expressions of CRH, TNF-α, IFN-γ and IL-10 in the hypothalamus were significantly increased (P<0.01). decreased (P<0.01); the fascicular zona of adrenal cortex of Lewis rats was slightly thinned, the mitochondria were reduced, and slightly deformed and swollen; the somatic nuclei of hypothalamic neurons of Lewis rats were large, irregular in shape, and significantly reduced in mitochondria. Neuronal synapses are reduced, and secretory vesicles at the presynaptic portion are reduced.
Conclusion: The hypothalamus and adrenal gland of Lewis rats have a certain degree of ultrastructural changes, and the abnormal expression of immune-related cytokines and CRH mRNA may be related to the functional imbalance of their own HPA axis.