【Animal Modeling】 - Methylthiouracil Method for Kidney Yang Deficiency Animal Model

  (1) Reproduction method: Adult mice were used, and methyl thiouracil was mixed with tap water to replace drinking water at a concentration of 0.03%. The model was established for 5 weeks. After the experiment, blood was collected to measure plasma cortisol content, animals were euthanized and testicles were weighed, and gastric and duodenal mucosa were taken for histopathological examination.

  (2) At the end of the model characteristic experiment, the appearance of the animal was poor, and it was easy to be anesthetized during anesthesia. The plasma cortisol content and the transverse diameter of the testicular seminiferous tubules significantly decreased, while the testicular index significantly increased. Histopathology shows significant atrophic lesions in the gastric mucosa, characterized by a significant decrease in the thickness of the lamina propria of the gastric mucosa and the relative thickness of the glandular floor of the gastric body. The gastric fovea shows a deepening trend, and the neutral red staining of the main cells of the gastric glandular body is enhanced, mainly at the bottom of the cells, with a significant decrease in the relative thickness of the glandular floor; The frequency of mitotic phase in the pyloric mucosa was significantly reduced, and the decrease in acidic mucus in the pyloric mucosa was synchronized with the decrease in mitotic phase. Mast cells in the submucosa became thinner and degranulated.

  (3) Comparative medicine, such as thiazide, methylthiouracil, propylthiouracil, and other thiourea drugs, can hinder the synthesis of thyroid hormones. The established model basically conforms to the syndrome differentiation of kidney yang deficiency in symptoms and signs. Its pathological changes include substantial lesions and decreased function of the pituitary, thyroid, adrenal, gonads, and internal organs, as well as pathological and functional damage to immune organs such as the thymus and spleen, Among them, hypothyroidism is the main cause. Due to the inability of this type of drug to directly counteract the effects of thyroid hormones, it is necessary to wait for the stored thyroid gland to be depleted before it can exert its effect and demonstrate efficacy. Therefore, the modeling time required is relatively long.