OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Ningdong Granule (NDG) on stereotyped behaviors in Tourette's syndrome (TS) model rats of different Chinese medical syndromes.

METHODSThirty-two Wistar rats were used to establish TS models of different Chinese medical syndromes (n =8) induced by TS children patients' sera of 4 syndromes, i.e., Xin-Gan deficiency syndrome (XGDS), Gan-Shen yin deficiency syndrome (GSYDS), sputum-turbid blocking aperture syndrome (STBAS), and Gan hyperactivity Pi deficiency syndrome (GHPDS). Corresponding sera was micro-infused to them while administering NDG (120 mg/kg each time, thrice daily, for 3 successive weeks). Besides, another normal control group (n =8) was set up by injecting sera from healthy children plus intragastric perfusion of normal saline. Stereotyped behaviors were recorded on the 1st, 7th, 14th, and 21st day after administration of NDG.

RESULTSThe anti-neural antibody serum concentration in TS children was significantly higher than that in healthy control [(1.28 +/- 0.36) UL vs. (0.52 +/- 0.24) U/L, P < 0.01 ]. It was (1.34 +/- 0.41) U/L in the XGDS group, (1.19 +/- 0.51) U/L in the GSYDS group, (1.29 +/- 0.61) U/L in the STBAS group, and (1. 17 +/- 0.45) U/L in the GHPDS group, showing no statistical difference (P > 0.05). There was no statistical difference in stereotypic behaviors of rats after treatment among the four different Chinese medical syndromes (P > 0.05). At day 7, 14, and 21 after treatment by NDG, the times of stereotyped behaviors were significantly less in the XGDS group than in the other three groups at the same time points except in the GHPDS group at day 14 (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Meanwhile, the total numbers of stereotyped behaviors in the XGDS group [(42.8 +/- 12.6)] was obviously superior to that in the GSYDS group [(29.3 +/- 13.7)], the STBAS group [(21.9 +/- 10.4)], and the GHPDS group [(30.6 +/- 9.6)], showing statistical difference (P < 0.01, P < 0.05) after treatment by NDG at day 21.

CONCLUSIONSThe anti-neural antibody serum concentration in TS children was significantly higher than that in healthy children. Stereotyped behaviors could be induced in rats after intrastriatal micro-infusion of TS sera rich in anti-neural antibody. TS model rats of XGDS were better improved than rats in the other 3 groups after treatment by NDG.