An Experimental Study On The Effects Of Artificial Simulated Climate On The Immune System Based On The Five Internal Organs

Theory of the five internal organs seasonal responded in TCM, is talking about how the body changes as the climate change. In this subject, we want to find out how the immune system reflects the old traditional theory. We took Golden Hamster as the subject of the research object. We selected four points along a whole year, which are the vernal equinox, summer solstice, autumnal equinox and winter solstice. On the very days of the four points of time, we determined several indicators which reflect the situation of the immune system to a certain extent. The indicators were spleen/thymus index, immunoglobulin (IgG, IgM e.g.), leukocyte interleukin (IL-1, IL-6, IL-10e.g.), Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF-α). We also wanted to study how the body get the information from the outside natural environment, and we found Melatonin as the enter point, the content of which changes with the light change. We satisfied some hamsters into model group which were removed of the pineal gland surgically. What’s more, we kept half of the hamsters in a big climate modeling chamber, in which the illumination time, temperature and humidity were artificial controlled, and we used this way to simulate natural climate, to study of the possible factors that natural climate affecting the body.Results:(1) Although there are certain significant differences between the surgical group and physical group of various indicators, the changes are not consistent; spleen index is the only one gets the uniform changes, the values of surgical groups is generally higher than those of physiological groups.(2)There was no significant change of the spleen/thymus index of physiological groups along the seasons. The value of IgM in spring was significantly higher than the other three quarters, while IgG got the highest point in the summer, and lowest in spring. The value of IL-1and IL-6changed like waves, but showed a complementary trend, and both fell in the winter. IL-10got the highest value in the spring, and the remaining three quarters in fluctuation. There are significant differences of the blood parameters in different seasons. TNF-a showed significant upward trend in autumn and winter.(3)The indicators of the artificial simulation of climate group did not agree with those of the natural climate group very well, even several showed the opposite situation. Conclusions:(1) The increasing of the MT in the pineal gland-removed ones is inconsistent with the literature. Maybe there are other influencing factors.(2) No significant seasonal variation was found of the spleen/thymus index of physiological groups. IgM plays an important role in the primary immune response, while IgG in the secondary immune response. What’s more, TNF-a plays an important role in killing the target cells. The seasonal changes of these three well confirmed the views of life activities of TCM:"new-born in spring, grows in summer, convergence in autumn, and built-inside in winter". IL-1、 IL-6、 IL-10with various sources and functions, intervene into a network to modulate the immune system.(3)The failure of the simulated climate, prompt us that the connotations of seasonal climate changes is more than the changes of light, temperature and humidity.