OBJECTIVETo classify NZB/W F1 lupus mice into three different constitutions, i. e. the cold, normal, and hot constitutions, and to prove the objective existence of the difference among them.

METHODSUsing the Four Diagnosis Work Station for Mice (founded by Prof. FANG Zhao-qin, the Research Faculty of Experimental Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine), the body weight, the armpit temperature, the heart rate, the 35-s activities, and the color of their tails and claws (r value) were detected. The total weight was calculated according to the formula: The total weight sum = the correction value of claws x 1 + the correction value of tail x 0.2 + the correction value of the armpit temperature x 0.7 + the correction value of heart rate x0. 05 + the number of the quadrant crossing x 0.025. The NZB/W F1 lupus mice were classified into the three different constitutions according to the higher total weight sum, the hotter the constitution, the lower total weight sum, the colder the constitution. The hydroxyproline content, connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), and transforming growth factor-beta1, (TGF-beta1) gene expression difference in the renal tissue were detected and the immunofluorescence staining observed.

RESULTSAmong the 158 NZB/W F1 lupus mice, 33 mice were classified into the hot constitution, 34 into the cold constitution, and 91 into the normal constitution. The renal hydroxyproline content in mice of normal and cold constitutions were higher than that of mice of the hot constitution (P<0.01). No statistical difference was shown between mice of the normal constitution and mice of the cold constitution. The CTGF gene expression level was significantly higher in mice of the cold constitution and mice of the hot constitution than in mice of the normal constitution (P<0.05). No significant difference was found between mice of the cold constitution and mice of the hot constitution. Lower level of TGF-beta1, expression existed in mice of the cold constitution than in mice of the normal constitution or mice of the hot constitution, showing insignificant difference. The immunofluorescence stain of the renal tissue among the three constitutions also showed some difference.

CONCLUSIONConstitution difference did exist among NZB/W F1 lupus mice.