Objective: To study the effect of prescription with functuon of tonifying the kidney on the resistance ability against pathogenic escherichia coli and phagocytic function of reticuloendothelial system(RES)in newborn mice with intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR)

and to investigate the theory of TCM:'the kidney being the origin of congential constitution and foundation of reproduction and development of an individual'

'invigorating the mother to benefit the children'. Method: The pregnant mice were randomly divided into 6 groups. The control group was fed normally. In model group

the pregnant mice were fed with alcohol on the 7th day

ig

12 mL·kg-1

for 14 days. In other 4 experiment groups

the pregnant mice were fed respectively by Zuogui Wan (ZGW

a prescription for reinforcing kidney Yin) or Yougui Wan(YGW

a prescription for reinforcing kidney Yang)or Wuzi Yanzong Wan(WZYZW

a prescription for reinforcing both of kidney Yang and kidney Yin)or Sijunzi decoction(SJZD

a prescription for supplementing Qi) ig

30 g·kg-1

30 mL·kg-1

for 14 days

at the same time. After birth

the newborn mice were infected with pathogenic escherichia coli

the phagocytic functions of reticuloendothelial system (RES)were detected. Result: In the treated groups

the survival rate of newborn mice infected by pathogenic escherichia coli(8) for 24 hours was higher than that in model group(P<0.05) and control group(P<0.05). The phagocytic function of reticuloendothelial system (RES)in model group (K:1.15±0.14

α:5.68±2.63)was markedly lower than control group(2.14±0.14

9.26±1.67

P<0.05). The phagocytic function in the treated group was markedly higher than that in model group(ZGW:2.54±0.12

8.51±1.94

P<0.05

YGW:0.98±0.07

8.86±1.76

P<0.05

WZYZW:2.28±0.09

8.70±1.32

P<0.05).But same result was not found in for supplementing Qi group. Conclusion: Prescriptions with function of tonifying the kidney like ZGW can enhance immunologic functions in newborn mice with IUGR.And this may provide an evidence for the theory-'the kidney being the origin of congential constitution and foundation of reproduction and development of an individual '

'invigorating the mother to benefit the children'in TCM from the aspect of immune theory.