Abstract:

Objective    To explore the effect of traditional Chinese medicine for kidneyreinforcing of  morphological alterations of the adrenal gland in mice with Kidney-Yang deficiency. Methods    The model of Kidney-Yang deficiency was established by overstrain and excessive sexual intercourse. The mice were randomly divided into three groups, including the normal control group, the Kidney-Yang deficiency group, and the Jinkuishenqi bolus group. After four-week treatment of traditional Chinese medicine for kidney-reinforcing, morphological changes of the adrenal gland were observed in all groups. Result    Compared with the normal control group, the weight and coefficient of the adrenal gland in the mice with Kidney-Yang deficiency were both obviously decreased（P﹤0.01; P﹤0.05）. Under a light microscope, it was shown that in the group of Kidney-Yang deficiency,   the adrenal cortex became thin, and the zona glomerulosa and fasciculate were narrow. The structure of cells was  irregularly arranged, while the cellular volume was reduced with shallow staining. In addition, vacuole-shaped cytoplasm and widened intercellular space were identified. Under an electronic microscope,  the shapes of nuclei were irregular in the glomerulosa zone of the adrenal cortex, while the nuclear membrane dissolved, the outer nuclear membrane protruded into the cytoplasm, and the chromatin were clumped. Compared with the normal control group, the number of mitochondria in the Kidney-Yang deficiency group was remarkably decreased, and parts of them were swollen and degenerated. The mitochondrial cristae were concentric or fingerprint-shaped and rough endoplasmic reticulum in the Kidney-Yang deficiency group were fewer than that in the normal control group. Smooth endoplasmic reticulum was obviously enlarged and vesicle-shaped. In contrast to the untreated group, the morphology of the adrenal cortex in the Jinkuishenqi bolus group was improved to a certain degree, which was similar to the normal control group. Conclusion     Morphology and ultra-structure of the adrenal gland in  mice with Kidney-Yang deficiency demonstrate degenerative changes. However, such damages can be repaired if treated with Jinkuishenqi bolus.

Key words: Jinkuishenqi bolus； Kidney-yang deficiency； Model, animals； Morphology, adrenal gland； Mice