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Metabolomics-based investigation of phenotypic and traditional Chinese medicine syndrome differences in rat models of chronic stress-related dry eye
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Zehai CHEN, Shuwen RUI, Yuanchen DING, Yu PEI, Changchang WANG, Wei SHI*, Ying YANG*
Acta Laboratorium Animalis Scientia Sinica | 2026, 34(3) : 313 - 325
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Acta Laboratorium Animalis Scientia Sinica | 2026, 34(3): 313-325
Metabolomics-based investigation of phenotypic and traditional Chinese medicine syndrome differences in rat models of chronic stress-related dry eye
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Zehai CHEN, Shuwen RUI, Yuanchen DING, Yu PEI, Changchang WANG, Wei SHI*, Ying YANG*
Affiliations
  • Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210029, China
Published: 2026-03-30 doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1005-4847.2026.03.001
Outline
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Objective

To establish and characterize two chronic stress-related dry-eye models using chronic unpredictable mild restraint (CUMR) and chronic unpredictable rhythm disturbance (CURD), respectively, and to compare their phenotypic presentations, metabolomic profiles, and correlations with traditional Chinese medicine syndrome patterns.

Methods

Healthy male specific-pathogen-free rats were divided into control, CUMR, and CURD groups. Rats in the CUMR group underwent single-cage housing combined with behavioral restraint daily, while CURD rats received random daily rhythm interventions. After 6 weeks of modeling, dry-eye rats associated with Yu syndrome were assessed for general conditions, behavioral performance, and dry-eye parameters. Histopathological alterations in the conjunctiva, cornea, and lacrimal gland were examined by hematoxylin-eosin staining. Serum concentrations of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and cortisol, and cornea levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β), were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Serum metabolomic profiling was conducted using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

Results

(1) There were significant differences in appearance and behavior between the CUMR and CURD groups. (2) Compared with the control group, cornea fluorescein staining(CFS) was significantly increased in the CUMR and CURD groups, while tear flow and tear-film breakup time (BUT) were significantly decreased, especially in the CUMR group. (3) There was no obvious inflammatory cell infiltration in the cornea in the CUMR or CURD group. Compared with the control group, there were significantly fewer conjunctival goblet cells in the CUMR and CURD groups, and the area of lacrimal gland vacuolation was significantly increased. (4) Serum 5-HT was significantly decreased and cortisol was significantly increased in the CUMR group compared with the CURD group, but there were no significant differences in cornea tissue TNF-α and IL-1β levels. (5) Serum metabolomic analysis revealed 235 differential metabolites in the CUMR and CURD groups, demonstrating a significant separation trend.

Conclusions

Distinct stress-modeling paradigms differentially impact host metabolism, culminating in divergent TCM syndrome manifestations and dry-eye phenotypes. The CUMR model exemplifies a dry-eye phenotype consistent with "Liver Depression and Spleen Deficiency," potentially mediated by perturbations in tryptophan metabolism, while the CURD model aligns with "Stagnation Heat in the Liver Channel," likely arising from disruptions in the tricarboxylic acid cycle.

dry eye  /  depression  /  chronic stress  /  rats  /  traditional Chinese medicine syndrome  /  metabolomics
Zehai CHEN, Shuwen RUI, Yuanchen DING, Yu PEI, Changchang WANG, Wei SHI, Ying YANG. Metabolomics-based investigation of phenotypic and traditional Chinese medicine syndrome differences in rat models of chronic stress-related dry eye[J]. Acta Laboratorium Animalis Scientia Sinica, 2026 , 34 (3) : 313 -325 . DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1005-4847.2026.03.001
  • National Natural Science Foundation of China(82405488)
  • Jiangsu Province Science and Technology Development Program for Traditional Chinese Medicine(QN202315)
Year 2026 volume 34 Issue 3
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Article Info
doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1005-4847.2026.03.001
  • Receive Date:2025-09-16
  • Online Date:2026-08-08
  • Published:2026-03-30
Article Data
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History
  • Received:2025-09-16
Funding
National Natural Science Foundation of China(82405488)
Jiangsu Province Science and Technology Development Program for Traditional Chinese Medicine(QN202315)
Affiliations
    Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210029, China

Corresponding:

SHI Wei. E-mail:
YANG Ying. E-mail:
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表12种不同金属材料的力学参数

Family
属数
Number of
genus
种数
Number of
species
占总种数比例
Percentage of
total species (%)

Genus
种数
Number of
species
占总种数比例
Percentage of total
species (%)
鹅膏菌科Amanitaceae 2 11 5.26 鹅膏菌属 Amanita 10 4.78
小菇科 Mycenaceae 2 12 5.74 丝盖伞属 Inocybe 5 2.39
多孔菌科 Polyporaceae 8 14 6.70 蜡蘑属 Laccaria 5 2.39
红菇科 Russulaceae 3 23 11.00 小皮伞属 Marasmius 6 2.87
小菇属 Mycena 11 5.26
光柄菇属 Pluteus 5 2.39
红菇属 Russula 17 8.13
栓菌属 Trametes 5 2.39
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