Abstract: 40 adult male rats were used and divided into 4 group,i.e.normal control group, “spleen deficiency gruop”caused by rhubarb,spontaneons recovery group and therapeutic group with Chinese herbs(Si Jun Zi decoction).The stomach of the four groups were removed and processed for demonstration of the reactivities of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH),Lactic dehydrogenase(LDH),magnesiu m-activa ted adenosine triphoaphatase(Mg²⁺-ATPase),alkaline phosphatase(ALP),non-specific esterases(NSE)and carbonic anhydrase (CA).The reactivities of above mentioned enzymes in gastric mucosa were observed with light microscopy and quantitative analyses were performed.The present study revealed that the reactivities of SDH,CA and NSE in parietal cells of fundic glands in“experimental spleen deficiency group”were less than those of the normal control group,and LDH reactivity was elevated as compared with the normal control group.These enzyme activitied of spontaneous recovery group appeared similar to them of the“experimental spleen deficiency”group.The enzyme activities of the therapeutic group seemed to be similar to the normal control group.The activities of Mg²⁺-ATPase and ALP in all the four group did not show any difference.Our study suggested that these changes of enzyme activities may be involved in pathogeneses of digestive disorders presented in spleen deficiency syndrome and the Chinese herbs(Si Jun Zi decoction)possessed significant therapeutic effect.

Key words: experimental spleen deficiency, enzyme histochemistry, gastric mucosa, parietal cells