(1) Experimental rats using replication method were raised for 18 months, and their general conditions such as activity, sleep, mental state, and fur were observed. Changes in body weight, ear temperature, exhaustion swimming time, respiratory rate, heart rate, and cardiac function were measured, and self comparison was made between the indicators observed at 12 and 18 months of age.
(2) Model features: At one month of age, all animals have normal activity and sleep, are mentally active, exhibit strong resistance during grasping, bite people, and have pink ears and limb tips. Their fur is shiny and white. At the age of 12 months, all animals have slightly less activity, normal sleep, and lack of vitality. They resist very violently and forcefully when grabbing, bite fiercely, and have pink ears and limb tips. Their fur is dull and ivory white. With the passage of time, especially after exceeding 18 months of age, animal activity significantly decreases, sleep increases, reactions become slightly sluggish, resistance and biting during grasping decrease, the pink color of the earlobes and limbs becomes slightly lighter, the fur is dull and somewhat withered, appearing ivory white. At 18 months of age, the exhaustion swimming time of animals is generally shortened. Compared with animals at 12 months of age, animals at 18 months of age showed slower respiratory rate, decreased ear temperature, cardiac index (CI), stroke volume (SV), and minute output (CO), and no significant changes in heart rate and weight.
(3) 12 months of age in comparative medicine rats is equivalent to 33.7 years of age in humans; 18 months of age is equivalent to approximately 50.5 years of age for a person. The aging of experimental animals and the observed indicators with increasing age all show negative symptoms. In nearly aged rats, the exhaustion swimming time is shortened and the amount of exercise and sleep is reduced, which is a necessary condition for the Qi deficiency syndrome of mental fatigue; Slow respiratory rate and possible chest tightness - a necessary condition for heart deficiency syndrome; CI decline is an important manifestation of heart qi deficiency syndrome. The slow respiratory rate and decreased ear temperature in 18 month old rats are consistent with those in humans. Exhaustive swimming time is generally shortened, CI decreases, and there is less movement and more sleep. The reduction of reaction and resistance indicates "decline in daily life", indicating that the symptoms of heart qi deficiency in humans and mice have certain similarities. So, near aging and aging rats can be used to study the heart qi deficiency syndrome of human aging, and the research should strictly follow the clinical requirements of the rat's age. The author believes that 18 month old rats not only exhibit heart qi deficiency syndrome, but also conform to lung qi deficiency syndrome based on the results of this experiment, such as reduced activity, increased sleep, pale limbs, and dull fur. In addition, kidney yang deficiency syndrome also exists. Therefore, it is not comprehensive enough to determine it solely as heart qi deficiency syndrome and requires in-depth comparative research.