OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of ginsenosides (GSS) extracted from ginseng stem and leaves on glucocorticoid receptor (GR) in different viscera in heat-damaged rats, and to find out its action mechanism. METHODS: Thirty-two male SD rats were divided into control group and experimental group, and fed 2 mg/d GSS and equal-quantity of distilled water respectively for 7 days. Eight rats of each group were exposed to (42+/-1) degrees C for one hour. The binding activities of GR in brain, thymus, lung and liver cytosols in rats were detected by radioligand binding assay. The expression levels of GR mRNA in brain and liver cytosols were determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay. Plasma adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) and corticosterone (CS) concentrations were determined by radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: The binding activities of GR in brain, lung and liver cytosols, and the expression levels of GR mRNA in brain and liver cytosols were all higher in the GSS-treated and heat-damaged rats than those in the untreated heat-damaged rats (P<0.05 or P<0.01). There were no significant differences in plasma concentrations of ACTH and CS between the GSS-treated heat-damaged rats and the untreated heat-damaged rats. CONCLUSION: GSS can lessen the descending degree of the binding activity of GR in brain, thymus, lung and liver cytosols, and such efficacy of GSS may be related to improvement of the expression of GR mRNA.

In teaching the course of Environmental Hygiene to the senior major of the four-year undergraduates of the Department of Public Administration,we have tried to reform the teaching program for the course of Public Place Hygiene.The related theories are taught right on the spot of public places instead of in classrooms.Students are organized to carry out such activities on their own as studying subject matters,consulting related documents and data,working out and implementing programs for on-the-spot monitoring and inspection,and then exchanging and discussing the results of monitoring and inspection,so that their interest in the courses is increased and their understanding of what they have learned is deepened.In this way they are able to apply their knowledge to practice,improve their practical capabilities,and enhance their overall capacity for analyzing and finding solutions to problems they are faced with.

Object To evaluate the effects of ginsenosides (GSS) in stem and leaves of ginseng on glucocorticoid receptor (GR) in the hemorrhagic shock rats, and study the mechanism. Methods Rats were divided into hemorrhagic shock group and control group. The rats in hemorrhagic shock groups were ig 200, 100, 50 mg/kg/d GSS, model group and control group were ig distilled water 2 mL for 10 days. The Rs of GR in brain and hepatic cytosol of rats were measured by radioligand binding assay, using [ 3H] dexamethasone as the ligand. The level of GR mRNA expression in hepatic cytosol were determined by RT-PCR. Plasma adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) and glucocorticoid (GC) concentrations were determined by the radioimmunoassay. Results Rs of GR in brain and hepatic cytosol were higher in hemorrhagic shock+GSS groups than those in hemorrhagic shock group, and the Rs of GR was the highest in hemorrhagic shock+10 mg/mL GSS group (P