OBJECTIVETo testify the TCM theory on "qi-stagnation causes blood stasis" and explore the method of using adrenaline to establish an acute and chronic blood stasis animal model.

METHODSWistar rats were divided into 5 groups, the blank group (un-modeled), the model group A (modeled with once subcutaneous injection of 0.1% adrenaline), the model group B (modeled with once a day of subcutaneous injection of 0.01% adrenalinei for consecutive seven days), the Salvia group (treated with salvia after modeling) and the Chuanxiong group (treated with Chuanxiong after modeling). The model was established by simulating the anger and anxious status to form acute and chronic blood stasis model respectively and the treatments of Salvia and Chuanxiong was used to testify the syndrome type. Hemorrheologic parameters of the rats were measured.

RESULTSCompared with that in the blank group, the low sheared rate of whole blood viscosity increased, and the RBC deformability and aggregation index raised in both model group A and B (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). Compared with that in Group A, in the Salvia group, the in vitro thrombus lengthened (P < 0.01), with its dry weight, wet weight increased (P < 0.01) after treatment, but the above-mentioned parameters in the Chuanxiong group were not changed at all.

CONCLUSIONOne time large dosage and multiple times of small dosage adrenaline subcutaneous injection to simulate angry and anxious status could produce blood stasis animal model. This fact provides an experimental basis for "Qi stagnation causes blood stasis" theory in TCM.