[Variation of TFAR-19 protein expression in the thymus of emotional stress mice and the regulatory effect of Modified Xiaoyao Pill].

Objective: To study the variation of TFAR-19 protein expression and Annexin-V apoptosis protein proportion in the mice thymus cell apoptosis procedure induced by water platform environment or electric emotional stress and the regulatory effect of Modified Xiaoyao Pill (MXP).

Methods: The mouse emotional stress model was established by water platform equipment or electrical stimulation. The serum glucocorticoid was detected by radioimmunoassay, the TFAR-19 protein was detected by flow cytometry analysis, and Annexin-V apoptosis protein proportion was calculated by immunofluorescence technique.

Results: In the groups of mouse stressed by water platform environment, the level of serum glucocorticoid, the TFAR-19 protein expression and the Annexin-V apoptosis protein proportion increased in the thymus cell along with the stress time prolonging (P<0.05 or P <0.01). The serum glucocorticoid level in mice treated with MXP was lower than that in the untreated group (P <0.05). In the groups of emotional stressed mouse established by electrical stimulation, the above-mentioned variations also revealed. All these variations could be alleviated with MXP (P<0.05).

Conclusion: The water platform environment stress is a chronic continuous stress and electrical stimulation is an acute smooth stress, both of them could damage thymus function through neuro-endocrineo-immune network, but different in duration for causing severe injury. Chinese medicine MXP can alleviate the damage of thymus induced by either of them to certain degree.