Effect of Korean Red Ginseng on Vaginal Blood Flow and Structure in Hypercholesterolemic Female Rats.
- Author:
Hyun Suk LEE
1
;
Mi Na LEE
;
In Sang HWANG
;
Sun Ouck KIM
;
Kyuyoun AHN
;
Kwangsung PARK
Author Information
1. Department of Urology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea. kpark@chonnam.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Hypercholesterolemia;
Vaginal blood flow;
Korean Red Ginseng
- MeSH:
Animals;
Blotting, Western;
Cholesterol;
Cholic Acid;
Cocos;
Female*;
Flowmeters;
Humans;
Hypercholesterolemia;
Models, Animal;
Panax*;
Rats*;
Rats, Sprague-Dawley;
Reproductive Health;
Transforming Growth Factor beta1;
Vagina
- From:Korean Journal of Andrology
2005;23(3):159-164
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
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 hypercholesterolemic female 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.
