[Effect of er'bao granule on integration of ingestion behavior-related information by neurons in lateral hypothalamic area of anorexia rats].

Objective: To confirm the effect of Er'bao granule (EBG) on the sensitivity to peripheral afferent signal of neurons in lateral hypothalamic area (LHA) to illustrate the central mechanism of EBG in promoting ingestion behavior.

Methods: The anorexia rat model was established by feeding special prepared forage for one week, and all the model rats were administrated with EBG by gavage for 3 weeks. The spontaneous discharge of LHA neurons was recorded using electro-physiological extracellular recording method, and its response to electrical stimulus on gastric vagus nerve and intravenous injection of glucose were observed and compared among the normal, model and treated groups.

Results: As compared with the normal group, among the LHA neurons responding to afferent gastric vagal impulse, the proportion of glycemia-sensitive neurons in the model group was significantly decreased (P <0.01), but insignificant difference was shown in comparison between the treated group and the normal group.

Conclusion: EBG play a role in regulating the sensitivity of LHA neurons to peripheral afferent signal and thus to influence the multi-afferent information integration of ingestion central neurons.