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KMID : 0356420050230030159
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Journal of Korean Andrology
2005 Volume.23 No. 3 p.159 ~ p.164
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Effect of Korean Red Ginseng on Vaginal Blood Flow and Structure in Hypercholesterolemic Female Rats
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Lee Hyun-Suk
Lee Mi-Na
Hwang In-Sang
Kim Sun-Ouck
Ahn Kyu-Youn
Park Kwang-Sung
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Abstract
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Purpose: The aims of this study were to investigate the effects of Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) on vaginal blood
flow and histological changes in a hypercholesterolemic female rat model.
Materials and Methods: Female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into two groups: the control (n=20) and the
hypercholesterolemia (n=40). Hypercholesterolemia group was fed a high fat diet (2% cholesterol, 1% cholic acid, 5%
coconut oil) for 12 weeks. The hypercholesterolemia group was further divided into the vehicle only and the KRG
treatment (50 mg/kg/day) groups. After 4 and 8 weeks of treatment, vaginal blood flow was measured by a laser
Doppler flowmeter. Vaginal tissues were processed for histology and Western blot.
Results: After 4 and 8 weeks of treatment, serum cholesterol levels (mg/dl) were significantly increased in the
hypercholesterolemia group (1185.0±736.1, 934.3±212.3) compared with the control group (69.7±19.5, 67.1±7.2),
and partially decreased in KRG treatment group (688.2±251.5, 694.2±150.4), respectively. Vaginal blood flow
(ml/min/100 g tissue) after pelvic nerve stimulation was lower in the hypercholesterolemia group (17.3±7.9, 17.9±5.5)
compared with the control group (27.3±17.1, 26.9±16.4), however, the KRG treatment group (29.5±10.3, 27.4±
11.1) was as high as the control group, respectively. The expressions of TGF-beta1 tended to increase in the vagina
of the hypercholesterolemia animals compared to those of the control and the KRG treatment groups.
Conclusions: KRG treatment in hypercholesterolemicfemale rats decreased serum cholesterol levels and improved vaginal blood flow. These results suggest that KRG treatment may have a beneficial effect in women’s sexual health.
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KEYWORD
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Hypercholesterolemia, Vaginal blood flow, Korean Red Ginseng
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