Objective: To observe the effect of Chinese herbs with cold and heat characteristics repsesented by rhubarb and atractylodis on gastrointestinal hormone levels in normal rats. Method : The rats were divided into the rhubarb group and the atrattylodis group randomly

each group included two doses

drug administration after 1

7

14

28 d

the MTL

GAS in both serum and gastric tissue were analyzed using radioimmunoassay method. The relevant hormone receptors including receptor binding constants(k1)

receptor binding numbers(q1) in gastric tissue were analyzed using radioligand receptor binding method assay. Result : ① After single time drug administration

the MTL level in serum of rats in Rhubarb groups with both high and low doses were decreased

the MTL level in serum of rats in atractylodis groups with both high and low dose were increased;the GAS level in serum of rats in rhubarb-high dose group were decreased significantly(P<0.05)

and the rats in atractylodis groups showed no significant change. Both the GAS receptor binding numbers and contants of rats in rhubarb -low dose groups were increased significantly(P<0.05)

the GAS receptor binding numbers of rats in atractylodis-high dose group were increased significantly(P<0.01). Both characteristics of herbs effect on the levels of receptor binding contants and MTL level in gastric tissue showed no significantly change.② After multiple times drug administration

both characteristics of medicines effect on the MTL level in serum were not significantly change

except the rats in atractylodis-low dose group were increased significantly(P<0.05) after 7 d;the GAS level in serum of rats in rhubarb-low dose group were decreased significantly(P<0.05)

and rats in Atractylodis groups with both high and low dose were increased slightly. Both characteristics of herbs effect on the GAS level in serum were not significantly change after 14

28 d. Both characteristics of medicines effect on MTL

GAS receptor binding contants were not significantly changed

except the effect on the receptor binding numbers. The MTL receptor binding numbers in gastric tissue of rats in rhubarb-high dose group after 28 d

and atractylodis groups with high and low dose after 14 d were increased significantly(P<0.05)

the GAS receptor binding numbers in gastric tissue of rats in both rhubarb group and atractylodis group with high dose after 14 d

and both characteristics of medicines groups with each doses after 28 d were increased significantly(P<0.05). Conclusion : ① The difference in effects of rhubarb and atractylodis on rat gastrointestinal hormone is mainly reflected in serum MTL level with opposite trend. As the drug administration goes on

the influence of the two herbs on serum MTL and GAS are getting closer. ② The main difference in effects of rhubarb and atractyloids on rat gastrointestinal hormones is mainly reflected in serum MTL level with opposite trend after administration for 28 days.③ The effects of rhubarb and atractyloids on receptors in gastric tissue are similar reflected by the increase in number of GAS receptors with stable binding constant.