Construction and Evaluation of Animal Model with "Phlegm-dampness" Syndrome
10.13422/j.cnki.syfjx.20250816
- VernacularTitle:“痰-湿”证动物模型的构建策略与评价体系
- Author:
Xiaoqin LIU
1
;
Qingzhi LIANG
1
;
Wei JIANG
1
;
Ling DENG
1
;
Haoyue FENG
1
;
Rensong YUE
1
Author Information
1. Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine（TCM），Chengdu 610000，China
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
phlegm-dampness syndrome;
animal model;
combination of disease and syndrome;
evaluation index;
syndrome detection by prescription
- From:
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae
2026;32(14):26-39
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
According to traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） theory， impaired spleen transportation function disrupts nutrient distribution， causing metabolic accumulation of lipids that transform into pathogenic phlegm-dampness. These pathological factors disseminate through the San Jiao and obstruct meridian pathways， ultimately forming the pathogenesis described as "all disorders involve phlegm". Phlegm and dampness share common pathogenic origins but manifest distinct clinical manifestations. Dampness， as the precursor， may congeal into phlegm， while existing phlegm accumulation can further exacerbate dampness stagnation， thereby establishing a self-perpetuating pathological cycle. Modern medical research has confirmed that the essence of "phlegm-dampness" syndrome is closely associated with energy metabolism disorders， serving as a common pathological basis for metabolic syndrome， type 2 diabetes mellitus， atherosclerosis， and other major chronic diseases. As a crucial vehicle for medical experimental research， disease-syndrome combination animal models serve as an indispensable means to advance the modernization of TCM. Currently， based on classical theories such as "rich and greasy foods produce phlegm" and "physical coldness combined with cold consumption causes external pathogens to invade the skin and hair， thereby generating internal dampness"， researchers primarily employ two paradigms to construct animal models of phlegm-turbidity， dampness obstruction， and phlegm-dampness syndromes： the first involves simulating TCM etiological factors （through methods like dietary irregularities， imblanace between work and rest， and combined internal-external dampness exposure）， while the second combines disease with syndrome differentiation （inducing pathological changes through physical， chemical， or biological interventions）. Through comprehensive evaluation incorporating macroscopic observation and microscopic index detection， model animals undergo systematic biological and pathological assessment， with further syndrome type verification achieved via the "prescription-based syndrome detection" approach. However， existing models still exhibit significant deficiencies in both the standardization of modeling methodologies and the systematization of evaluation criteria. This paper reviews the strategies for constructing "phlegm-dampness" syndrome animal models and their corresponding evaluation indices， focusing on the pathological correlations among different modeling approaches. The aim is to provide methodological guidance for research on TCM syndromes related to "phlegm-dampness" syndrome and to support the development of TCM therapies for resolving phlegm and eliminating dampness. This study not only contributes to advancing the standardization of TCM syndrome research but also provides crucial technical support for the modernization of TCM.
