Objective To evaluate the feasibility of establishing a rat model of qi deficiency and blood stasis syndrome by sleep deprivation method and to construct a systematic evaluation system. Methods A total of 24 SD rats were randomly divided into a normal control group and a model group

with 12 rats in each group. The model group used the sleep deprivation method to intervene

and the intensity was randomized for 14 to 16 hours every day for 6 weeks; the normal control group rats did not intervene. Exhausted swimming time and body weight were compared between the 2 groups of rats. Left ventricular ejection fraction（ LVEF）

effective cardiac output（ CO）

cardiac index（ CI）

and stroke output（ SV） were measured using an ultrasound system. Field experiments were used to observe the total distance of movement

average speed and the number of times of entering the central area. The blood coagulation function

tongue color analysis and pulse amplitude were tested

and the adrenocorticotropic hormone（ ACTH）and nicotinic choline receptor

recombinant cholinergic receptor nicotinic α1（ chrnα1）

adenosine triphosphate（ ATP） and adenosine diphosphate（ ADP） content in plasma/serum

and cardiac and vascular pathological results were detected. Results Compared with the normal control group

the total distance of movement and average speed of the rats in the model group decreased

the number of times of entering the central area increased

the time of exhaustion swimming was shortened

the body weight was significantly reduced

the plasma ACTH level was reduced

the serum chrnα1 level was increased

and cardiac function LVEF

CO

SV

CI decreased

plasma activated partial thrombin time（ APTT）

prothrombin time（ PT） decreased

fibrinogen（ FIB） increased

serum ATP content decreased

and ADP content increased（ P < 0. 05 or P < 0. 01）. In the model group

tongue manifestations showed significant reductions in red

red/green

red/blue

magenta to green range

and yellow to blue range values

and pulse amplitudes were reduced（ P < 0. 05 or P < 0. 01）. The pathology of the heart and blood vessels of both groups of rats remained unchanged. Conclusion The sleep deprivation method can successfully establish a rat model of qi deficiency and blood stasis syndrome. The evaluation system based on the primary symptoms

companing symptoms

tongue

and pulse signs has a guiding significance for the establishment of syndrome models.