AIM TO explore the mechanism of spleen deficiency(SD)by studying the relationship of gastro-intestinal peptides leveland ileal electro-mechanical activity of SD rats and coldrestrain rats.METHODS:(1)spleen deficiency(SD)model was establishedby feeding Houpou:Zhishi:Dahuang in the ratio of 3:3:2,3 ml/time,for 42 days.(2)The cold restrain stress model:Animals were restrained on grille and placed in a cool waterat 18℃ for 3 h.(3)Substance P(SP)and vasoactive intestinalpeptide(VIP)levels in all layers of initial part of ileum andblood in rats were measured by radioimmunoassays(RIA)while changes of electric activity and motility in ileum ofrats were recorded with electrode and strain gauge.RESULTS:SP levels in ileum and blood of experimental SDrats were significantly higher than that of the control groups(9.89±5.65 vs 1.22±1.18,P<0.005,in ileum;22.7±3.95 vs6.60±1.47,P<0.001,in blood)while the VIP levels of theSD rats were significantly lower than that of the controls(3.50±2.01 vs9.10±4.91,P<0.05,in ileum;229.8±62.4 vs560.4±151.3,P<0.001,in blood).As compared with thecontrols,the average frequency of slow electric waves(21.3±0.96 vs 18.2±2.28,P<0.05)and motility(21.5±0.58vs 18±2.65,P<0.005)of SD rats increased obviously andthe frequency of fast waves of SD rat also increased.Inspontaneous recovery cases,SP levels recovered significantly(compared with the SD groups,2.99±0.62 vs9.89±5.65,P<0.001,in ileum;14.4±4.22 vs 22.7±3.95,P<0.001,inblood)but did not drop to normal.After the SD rats treatedwith Chinese herbs(Jiawei Sijun zi Tang),SP improved(compared with SD cases,2.20±1.25 vs9.89±5.65,(P<0.001),in ileum;10.7±1.88 vs 22.7±3.95,(P<0.001),in blood)and VIP in blood also improved(compared with SD rats,485.7±229.0 vs229.8±62.4,P<0.01)while the amplitudeof motility decreased apparently(compared with the SD rats,0.64±0.096 vs0.89±0.15,P<0.01).The ileal SP levels ofcool stress didn’t change while the ileal VIP levels of coolstress became significantly lower than that of the controlgroups(2.87±0.87 vs 9.10±4.91,P<0.01).The blood SPlevels of cool stress were significantly higher(15.60±1.83vs 6.60±1.47,P<0.001)whereas the blood VIP levels ofcool stress were significantly lower than that of the controlgroup(153.4±70.46 vs 560.4±151.30,P<0.001).CONCLUSION:Changes of SP and VIP levels in initial part of ileum and blood of SD rats and cool stress rats may beclosely related to the gastrointestinal motility disorderspresented in SD and cool stress rots.the Chinese herbs(JiaweiSijun zi Tang)currently used have partially therapeutic effect. AIM TO explore the mechanism of spleen deficiency (SD) by studying the relationship of gastro-intestinal peptides leveland ileal electro-mechanical activity of SD rats and coldrestrain rats. METHODS: (1) spleen deficiency (SD) model was established by feeding Houpou: Zhishi (2) The cold restrain stress model: Animals were restrained on grille and placed in a cool waterat 18 ° C for 3 h. (3) Substance P (SP) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) levels in all layers of initial part of ileum and blood in rats were measured by radioimmunoassays (RIA) while changes of electric activity and motility in ileum ofrats were recorded with electrode and strain gauge .RESULTS: SP levels in ileum and blood of experimental SDrats were significantly higher than that of the control groups (9.89 ± 5.65 vs 1.22 ± 1.18, P <0.005, in ileum; 22.7 ± 3.95 vs 6.60 ± 1.47, P <0.001, in blood) while the VIP levels of the SD rats were significantly lower than that of the controls (3.50 ± 2.01 vs9.10 ± 4.91, P <0.05, in ileum; 229.8 ± 62.4 vs 560.4 ± 151.3, P <0.001, in blood) .As compared with the controls, the average frequency of slow electric waves (21.3 ± 0.96 vs 18.2 ± 2.28, P < 0.05) and motility (21.5 ± 0.58 vs. 18 ± 2.65, P <0.005) of SD rats increased obviously and the frequency of fast waves of SD rat also increased. Involuntary exposure cases, SP levels restored significantly (compared with the SD groups, 2.99 ± 0.62 vs 9.89 ± 5.65, P <0.001, in ileum; 14.4 ± 4.22 vs 22.7 ± 3.95, P <0.001 inblood) but did not drop to normal. After the SD rats treated with Chinese herbs (Jiawei Sijun zi Tang), SP improved (compared with SD cases, 2.20 ± 1.25 vs 9.89 ± 5.65, (P <0.001), in ileum; 10.7 ± 1.88 vs 22.7 ± 3.95, (P <0.001) in blood) and VIP in blood also improved with SD rats, 485.7 ± 229.0 vs 229.8 ± 62.4, P <0.01) while the amplitude of motility decreased apparently (compared with the SD rats, 0.64 ± 0.096 vs. 0.89 ± 0.15, P <0.01). The ileal SP levels of cool stress did not change while the ileal VIP levels of coolstress became significantly lower than that of the conThe blood levels of coke stress were significantly higher (15.60 ± 1.83 vs. 6.60 ± 1.47, P <0.001). The blood VIP levels of cool stress were significantly lower than that of the controlgroup (153.4 ± 70.46 vs 560.4 ± 151.30, P <0.001) .CONCLUSION: Changes of SP and VIP levels in initial part of ileum and blood of SD rats and cool stress rats may beclosely related to the gastrointestinal motility disorderspresented in SD and cool stress rots.the Chinese herbs (JiaweiSijun zi Tang) currently used have partially therapeutic effect.