Metabolic and Behavioral Patterns in a Pre-Menstrual Syndrome Animal Model with Liver-qi Invasion and Their Reversal by a Chinese Traditional Formula

This work successfully used model rats with Pre-Menstrual Syndrome (PMS) liver-qi invasion in the early development days to detect the Metabolic and Behavioral Patterns and their reversal by a Chinese traditional formula. Our aim is to verify the reliability of PMS liver-qi invasion rat model and explore some micromechanism of the syndrome of the liver failing to maintain the normal flow of qi. 30 rats with estrous cycles not in accepting time were selected and divided randomly into three groups: the normal control group, PMS liver-qi invasion model group and PMS liver-qi invasion medication-administered group. Emotional stimulation and multiple factors combination were used to prepare the PMS liver-qi invasion model. Baixiangdan Capsules (a Chinese traditional formula) were administered to rats to interfere with the PMS liver-qi invasion mode. Open-field test was used to explore behavioral aspects of the model. Urine samples, from the three groups, were collected and analyzed with UPLC-Q-TOF method to detect changes in metabolites related to liver functions. In the open-field experiment, the crossing scores, rearing scores and open-field experiment total scores of rats in the PMS liver-qi invasion model group increased remarkably (P < 0.05) compared with the scores of the normal control group, the tendency was retrieved remarkably after medications (P < 0.05). Metabolic fingerprints between the PMS liver-qi invasion model group and the normal control group had also distinguished changes through principal component analysis, and an evident restoration trend occurred after Baixiangdan Capsules administration. Taken together, behavioral and metabolic patterns can differentiate the PMS liver-qi invasion rat models from the normal rats. Our results identified potential biological markers that might reflect metabolic pathologies associated with PMS liver-qi invasion.