“肝应春”是《内经》“五脏主时”理论的重要组成部分，目前的研究多偏重于理论的探讨，缺乏调控机制的研究，因而使研究得不到深入。为揭示中医“肝应春”的本质内涵，本课题拟采用将自然季节变化因素、机体情绪相关神经内分泌网络因素和“肝应春，主疏泄、调畅情志”的功能结合起来，通过动物实验，从松果腺—褪黑素与海马-HPA轴的神经递质、激素的关系出发，研究肝与春气相通应的神经内分泌的物质基础。重点研究情绪相关神经内分泌在不同季节的差别，以及松果腺—褪黑素对情绪相关神经内分泌的调节作用，探讨松果腺—褪黑素在中医肝与春气相通应中的中介作用。以期阐明“肝应春”理论的科学内涵，为揭示季节性情感障碍的季节性发病的病理生理学机制及其防治提供实验依据，对现代生命科学、时间医学的研究也提供新思路。

'Liver according to spring' is an important branch of the theory of 'five viscera correspond to the four seasons'. Current research and analysis of liver system is not comprehensive and depth,which is the result of focuses of the theory and the lackage of the study of regulation and control mechanisms.In order to study the essential intention of 'liver according to spring',the subject would associate the function of liver system in Chinese Medicine with seasonal variation, as well as neuroendocrine network.The pathways of 'liver according to spring' in neuroendocrine is based on animal studies.We will study the relationship between pineal gland-melatonin and hippocampus-HPA axis,which include neurotransmitters,hormones.We will focus on the variation of the neurotransmitter associated with emotion in different seasons and regulating effects of pineal gland-melatonin on neurotransmitter associated with emotion.We will study the intermediate role of pineal gland-melatonin in 'liver according to spring'.In order to explain the scientific connotation of 'liver according to spring',reveal the pathophysiology of seasonal mental disorder and provide experimental evidences for the prevention of Seasonal Affective Disorder(SAD),which will provide new ideas for the study of modern life science and chronobiological medicine.

“肝应春”是《内经》“五脏主时”理论的重要组成部分，目前的研究多偏重于理论的探讨，缺乏调控机制的研究，因而使研究得不到深入。为揭示中医“肝应春”的本质内涵，本课题拟采用将自然季节变化因素、机体情绪相关神经内分泌网络因素和“肝应春，主疏泄、调畅情志”的功能结合起来，通过动物实验，从松果腺—褪黑素与海马-HPA轴的神经递质、多肽、激素的关系出发，研究肝与春气相通应的神经内分泌的物质基础。通过实验我们发现，血浆中松果腺分泌的褪黑素存在季节性变化，与光照强度成反比关系。摘除松果腺可以导致SD雄性大鼠HPA轴活性增高，同时伴海马中5-HT、NE、DA降低，提示摘除松果腺可导致抑郁状态。特别是春季，而春季肝气升发，松果腺褪黑素因自然界光照增强而逐步减少，摘除松果腺后大鼠褪黑素进一步降低，手术组5-HT、NE明显低于正常对照组及伪手术组（P＜0.05），提示摘除松果腺后肝气不能及时疏泄，出现抑郁状态的加重，提示“肝主疏泄、调节情志”功能与HPA轴及海马关系密切，松果腺则是联系它们与外界的中介因素。这一研究不仅充实了肝藏象的本质内涵，也为肝系统情志类疾病的季节性高发及防治提供了科学的实验依据。