Metabolomic profiling in a rat model of visual fatigue associated with liver-kidney yin deficiency syndrome

BackgroundVisual fatigue, commonly attributed to excessive eye use or dry conditions, is traditionally associated with deficiencies in liver and kidney yin in Chinese medicine. However, its metabolic aspects remain largely unexplored.MethodsLevothyroxine sodium combined with tail-clip stimulation in...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Xue Zhang, Xin Liu, Zhiqiang Huang, Yan Chen, Yingli Zhu, Jianjun Zhang, Jun Du, Liang Chen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-07-01
Series:Frontiers in Endocrinology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fendo.2025.1586581/full
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849245636345462784
author Xue Zhang
Xin Liu
Zhiqiang Huang
Yan Chen
Yingli Zhu
Jianjun Zhang
Jun Du
Liang Chen
author_facet Xue Zhang
Xin Liu
Zhiqiang Huang
Yan Chen
Yingli Zhu
Jianjun Zhang
Jun Du
Liang Chen
author_sort Xue Zhang
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundVisual fatigue, commonly attributed to excessive eye use or dry conditions, is traditionally associated with deficiencies in liver and kidney yin in Chinese medicine. However, its metabolic aspects remain largely unexplored.MethodsLevothyroxine sodium combined with tail-clip stimulation induced a rat model of visual fatigue with liver and kidney yin deficiency. At 3 (M1), 7 (M2) and 14 (M3) days after induction, histopathological changes were observed, and metabolic profiling was completed using untargeted UHPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap/MS.ResultsThe rats exhibited signs of liver and kidney yin deficiency and visual fatigue on days 3 and 7, respectively. Compared to the control group, we identified 127 and 96 differential metabolites in the serum on days 7 and 14, respectively, primarily lipids and organic nitrogen compounds. Moreover, we observed disruptions in sphingolipid metabolism and signaling pathways.ConclusionThis study enriches our understanding of the metabolic profile associated with liver-kidney-yin deficiency type visual fatigue.
format Article
id doaj-art-9e06f9e8ca634bd0b427f423d5b86b79
institution Kabale University
issn 1664-2392
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Endocrinology
spelling doaj-art-9e06f9e8ca634bd0b427f423d5b86b792025-08-20T03:58:45ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Endocrinology1664-23922025-07-011610.3389/fendo.2025.15865811586581Metabolomic profiling in a rat model of visual fatigue associated with liver-kidney yin deficiency syndromeXue Zhang0Xin Liu1Zhiqiang Huang2Yan Chen3Yingli Zhu4Jianjun Zhang5Jun Du6Liang Chen7Amway Phytonutrients Research Center, Nutrilite (China) Nutrition & Health Institute, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of Ophthalmology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, ChinaSchool of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, ChinaSchool of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, ChinaSchool of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, ChinaSchool of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, ChinaAmway Phytonutrients Research Center, Nutrilite (China) Nutrition & Health Institute, Shanghai, ChinaAmway Phytonutrients Research Center, Nutrilite (China) Nutrition & Health Institute, Shanghai, ChinaBackgroundVisual fatigue, commonly attributed to excessive eye use or dry conditions, is traditionally associated with deficiencies in liver and kidney yin in Chinese medicine. However, its metabolic aspects remain largely unexplored.MethodsLevothyroxine sodium combined with tail-clip stimulation induced a rat model of visual fatigue with liver and kidney yin deficiency. At 3 (M1), 7 (M2) and 14 (M3) days after induction, histopathological changes were observed, and metabolic profiling was completed using untargeted UHPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap/MS.ResultsThe rats exhibited signs of liver and kidney yin deficiency and visual fatigue on days 3 and 7, respectively. Compared to the control group, we identified 127 and 96 differential metabolites in the serum on days 7 and 14, respectively, primarily lipids and organic nitrogen compounds. Moreover, we observed disruptions in sphingolipid metabolism and signaling pathways.ConclusionThis study enriches our understanding of the metabolic profile associated with liver-kidney-yin deficiency type visual fatigue.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fendo.2025.1586581/fullvisual fatigueliver and kidney yin deficiencyUHPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap/MSmetabolomicssignaling pathways
spellingShingle Xue Zhang
Xin Liu
Zhiqiang Huang
Yan Chen
Yingli Zhu
Jianjun Zhang
Jun Du
Liang Chen
Metabolomic profiling in a rat model of visual fatigue associated with liver-kidney yin deficiency syndrome
Frontiers in Endocrinology
visual fatigue
liver and kidney yin deficiency
UHPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap/MS
metabolomics
signaling pathways
title Metabolomic profiling in a rat model of visual fatigue associated with liver-kidney yin deficiency syndrome
title_full Metabolomic profiling in a rat model of visual fatigue associated with liver-kidney yin deficiency syndrome
title_fullStr Metabolomic profiling in a rat model of visual fatigue associated with liver-kidney yin deficiency syndrome
title_full_unstemmed Metabolomic profiling in a rat model of visual fatigue associated with liver-kidney yin deficiency syndrome
title_short Metabolomic profiling in a rat model of visual fatigue associated with liver-kidney yin deficiency syndrome
title_sort metabolomic profiling in a rat model of visual fatigue associated with liver kidney yin deficiency syndrome
topic visual fatigue
liver and kidney yin deficiency
UHPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap/MS
metabolomics
signaling pathways
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fendo.2025.1586581/full
work_keys_str_mv AT xuezhang metabolomicprofilinginaratmodelofvisualfatigueassociatedwithliverkidneyyindeficiencysyndrome
AT xinliu metabolomicprofilinginaratmodelofvisualfatigueassociatedwithliverkidneyyindeficiencysyndrome
AT zhiqianghuang metabolomicprofilinginaratmodelofvisualfatigueassociatedwithliverkidneyyindeficiencysyndrome
AT yanchen metabolomicprofilinginaratmodelofvisualfatigueassociatedwithliverkidneyyindeficiencysyndrome
AT yinglizhu metabolomicprofilinginaratmodelofvisualfatigueassociatedwithliverkidneyyindeficiencysyndrome
AT jianjunzhang metabolomicprofilinginaratmodelofvisualfatigueassociatedwithliverkidneyyindeficiencysyndrome
AT jundu metabolomicprofilinginaratmodelofvisualfatigueassociatedwithliverkidneyyindeficiencysyndrome
AT liangchen metabolomicprofilinginaratmodelofvisualfatigueassociatedwithliverkidneyyindeficiencysyndrome