| In TCM theory,"Correspondence between Man and Nature" means man and nature is an integrated whole.Human being make changes of nature,simultaneously changes of nature have indispensable influence on human being.In TCM theory,the human body is an integrated whole structured by five zang function systems,so the five zang fuction systems in the human body are closely linked with nature,that is "Five-Zang Proper to The Season".And "Lung Correspondence to Autumn" is an important content of "Five-Zang proper to the season".The functions of lung,which change with nature,are different and take different roles in a year.Moreover,deep research on "Lung Correspondence to Autumn" in TCM theory would be beneficial to understand the seasonal changes of physiological function of lung.There is the important theoretical guidance value on prevention and treatment on seasonal respiratory diseases.And the study is beneficial to reveal the connotation of lung Zang-Xiang theory.1 ObjectiveThrough theoretical and experimental research,the study is with a view to reveal "Lung Correspondence to Autumn" theory and the connotation of lung Zang-Xiang theory.And through an objective analysis on the experimental results of the seasonal changes of TNF-α,IL-10 and MR contents,the study will reveal the effects which melatonin has on immune function,and explain the molecular mechanisms how melatonin regulate the function of lung,with a view to reveal the role pineal gland and melatonin on "Lung Correspondence to Autumn" theory.2 Methods2.1 Theoretical methodsThrough the documentary materials and logical analysis methods,the study, taking "Lung Correspondence to Autumn" theory into the change course of the year cycle,dynamicly analyses the adaptive change and regulation role of the function of lung in a year.The study,combining the rhythm of pineal and melatonin with the function of lung related immunity,deeply analyses the role pineal gland and melatonin on "Lung Correspondence to Autumn" theory.2.2 Experimental methods2.2.1 Experimental animalsTwenty-four Wistar male rats,weighted 150-170g,brought from Beijing Weitong Lihua animal study center thirty-five days before vernal,equinox, summer solstice,autumnal equinox and winter solstice,were randomly divided into three groups:normal group,fake group and operation group(pinealectomy group).There were eight rats in every group.Fake group and operation group were operated a month before vernal equinox,summer solstice,autumnal equinox and winter solstice.All the rats would be raised till vernal equinox, summer solstice,autumnal equinox and winter solstice,on thhese days at 20:30, they would be beheaded.All rats received natural light,ate and drank freely,and were controlled under certain room temperature was 17℃±2℃in winter and spring,and it was 25℃±2℃in summer and autumn.2.2.2 Test methodTo assay the contents of melatonin receptor in lung andTNF-αand IL-10 in serum,ELISA was engaged.2.2.3 Analysis methodThe differences of groups were tested by SPSS 13.0.All the data were showed by mean±standard error.The values were calculated with Duncan's multiple range test or Student's test.P＜0.05 meant obvious difference.P＜0.01 meant very obvious difference.3 Results3.1 Results of theoretical study3.1.1 In TCM theory,"Lung Correspondence to Autumn" means the function of lung is related to the autumn.In autumn,the lung functions of descending is in the dominant position,and plays dominant role in other functions of lung and functions of other zang.In the other seasons,the functions of lung,changing with the time,is in the subordinate position and synergistic or inhibitory the functions of "zang Correspondence to season".3.1.2 Pineal gland and melatonin are exclusively involved in signaling the day and season rhythm,also Melatonin stimulates and enhance immune function. Therefore Pineal gland and melatonin take an important position and play a regulating role in the physiological mechanism of "Lung Correspondence to Autumn" theory.3.2 Results of experiments3.2.1 Under normal physiological conditions,the content of TNF-αin rat serum expressed the annual trend,which was the content in winter and spring was higher than summer and autumn.Compared summer and autumn with winter,there were significant differences(P＜0.01).Compared summer and autumn with spring, there were significant differences(P＜0.05).And the content of IL-10 in rat serum expressed the annual trend,which was the content in winter was higher than autumn and spring.Compared autumn and spring with winter,there were significant differences(P＜0.01).And the content of melatonin receptor in rat lung tissue expressed the annual trend,which was the content in spring and winter was higher than autumn.Among them,there was the highest in spring and lowest in Autumnal.Compared spring and winter with autumn,there were significant differences(P＜0.05).3.2.2 The content of TNF-αin the operation group(pinealectomy group),there was the same annual trend.In winter there was significant difference(P＜0.05) between the operation group and normal group,there was no significant difference(P＞0.05) between the fake group and normal group.It's shown that the pineal gland significantly affected TNF-αcontent in serum in winter.The annual trend of the content of IL-10 in the operation group(pinealectomy group) was different from the one of normal group.And the ignificant difference between autumn,spring and winter was disappeared.And in winter there was significant difference(P＜0.01) between the operation group and normal group,there was no significant difference(P＞0.05) between the fake group and normal group.It's shown that the the pineal gland significantly affected IL-10 content in serum in winter.The content of MR.in the operation group(pinealectomy group),there was a significant difference(P＜0.05) between autumn and spring,also there was a significant difference(P＜0.01) between winter and spring.In autumn there was significant difference(P＜0.05) between the operation group and normal group, there was no significant difference(P＞0.05) between the fake group and normal group.It was shown that the removal of the pineal gland had a significant influence on the seasonal changes of the MR content in the rat lung tissue and the pineal gland significantly affected the MR content in the rat lung tissue in autumn.4 Conclusions4.1 In TCM theory,"Lung Correspondence to Autumn" outlines that the physiological functions of lung change adapting to the characteristics of nature and plays different role,in different seasons of a year.In autumn, the lung functions of descending is in the dominant position,and plays dominant role in other functions of lung and functions of other zang.In the other seasons, the functions of lung,changing with the time,is in the subordinate position and synergistic or inhibitory the functions of "zang Correspondence to season" 4.2 The content of TNF-αand IL-10 in rat serum expresses a annual trend,which is the content of TNF-αin winter and spring is higher than summer and autumn and the content of IL-10 in winter is higher than autumn and spring.4.3 The content of melatonin receptor in rat lung tissue expresses a annual trend, which is the content in spring and winter is higher than summer and autumn. After removal of the pineal gland,the annual trend changed and the pineal gland significantly affected the MR content in the rat lung tissue in autumn.4.4 The pineal gland significantly regulated the immune function and the content of the MR in the rat lung.There is up-regulation of the contents of TNF-α,IL-10 in winter.And there is down-regulation the content of the MR in autumn.4.5 The immune mechanism of "Lung Correspondence to Autumn" theory isclosely related to the pineal gland,and melatonin secreted by the pineal gland plays its important role through binded with melatonin receptor.Furthermore, the specific regulatory mechanism should be studied. |
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