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KMID : 0377619620020020199
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Korean Jungang Medical Journal
1962 Volume.2 No. 2 p.199 ~ p.215
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EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES ON THE INFLUENCE OF KOREAN GINSEN ON THE CHANGES OF VARIOUS ORGANS PRODUCED BY REPEATED ADRENALIN INFECTION IN THE RABBITS
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Abstract
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Early in 1903, Josue called attention on the resemblance of human arteriosclerosis to the lesions he produced in the rabbits by repeated injection of adrenalin through the ear veins. Since that time this method has repeatedly, been proven to be one of the most reliable methods of producing aortic lesions experimentally. However, it was later learned that the lesions so produced actually are in the aortic media rather than in the intima which is the usual form of atherosclerosis or arteriosclerosis.
Further investigations proved that other substances such as diphtheria toxin, tyramine and other vasotonic substances can also produce similar medial changes as in adrenalin injection. Interests in this field continued since the medial changes were very similar to so called idiopathic cystic medial necrosis seen in human aorta which are often associated with dissecting aneurysm.
The interest in the effect of Korean Ginsen continues to attract many investigators since in spite of its advocated curious effects claimed by many people in the orient, there have been very little scientific confirmation of its value to such an extent.
Knowing the backgrounds associated with the problem of Ginsen, it was the purpose of this investigator to see the influence of Ginsen on the changes produced by adrenalin injection by means of pathological evaluation.
Materials and Methods:
Healthy Korean albino rabbits weighing-around 2.0 Kg were used. The animals were divided into 5 groups and were treated as follows;
Group 1.: 6 animals receiving daily injection of saline into the ear veins for 8 weeks in addition to regular diet. This constituted the control group.
Group 2.: 6 animals receiving daily injection of adrenalin into the ear veins for 8 weeks. 0.1c. c. during the first week and 0. 2c. c. during the remainder. Regular diet.
Group 3.: 6 animals receiving 2.0gm of Ginsen powder mixed with the diet and daily saline injection for 4 weeks and daily adrenalin injection for 4 weeks thereafter.
Group 4.: 6 animals receiving Ginsen powder as well as adrenalin injection daily for 8 weeks.
Grout, 5.: 6 animals receiving daily adrenalin injection for 4 weeks and Ginsen administration for 4 weeks thereafter.
After completion of above experiment all animals were sacrificed and examined grossly. After adequate examination the organs were immediately fixed into 10% neutral formalin and embedded into paraffin. Histological sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin routinely. Sections from various portions of aorta and heart were stained with phosphotungustic acid hematoxylin, Periodic Acid Schiff reaction, Elastic stain in addition to H&E.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:
The control animals did not show any abnormalities as expected. The adrenalin injection produced´ profound and devastating damage to the aortic media which were more pronounced in the ascending and thoracic aorta than in the abdominal aorta. The degeneration as it appears seems to affect the muscle fibers earlier and more severely than the other elements of the aorta. Atrophy and loss of muscle fibers created separation of elastic membranes causing cystic changes and later produced strikingly regular but diffuse- dissolution of media. Sometimes, deposition of calcium salts was present.
The animals receiving Ginsen powder with the adrenalin injection-also showed some degenerative effects in the media, however, its extent and severity were far less than seen in the animals receiving adrenalin alone. Adrenalin injection also caused. severe panarteritis in the arterioles of myocardium with resultant myocardial damages. None of the animals receiving Ginsen showed this phenomenon. Arteriolar thickening was also observed in the kidneys in the- adrenalin injected animals but not seen in the other animals. Other minor changes are also described and compared as to their nature and severity.
The results obtained in the present investigation strongly suggests that the Korean-Ginsen-acts favorably for the cure and prevention of diffuse medial degeneration of aorta and other vascular changes in-various organs produced by adrenalin injection. It is regrettable that the exact mechanism(s) for such effect can- not be adequately presented at this time. Perhaps reported effects of Ginsen in lowering blood pressure might have some connection with such a beneficial effect though this purely is speculative at this time. Further investigation certainly is wanted.
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KEYWORD
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