[Effects of kamikihi-to on ovariectomy-induced changes in behavior and circulation in rats].
The various symptoms that women experience in the climacteric period, such as flashing, depression, paresthesia and insomnia, have been termed the menopausal syndrome. Since Kamikihi-to (KMK) has been administered clinically for several of these symptoms, the effects of KMK were evaluated in a series of experiments using adult ovariectomized (OVX) rats. After surgery, KMK and other drugs were administered daily for 7 or 8 days until the experiments. OVX rats showed significantly higher electric shock thresholds, and KMK restored their sensitivity to electric shock in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, the latency of OVX rats in the step-through passive avoidance test was significantly shortened, and KMK prolonged the latency significantly. OVX rats showed a significantly decreased number of correct choices and an increased number of errors in the 8-arm radial maze task, and KMK normalized both of these parameters in a dose-dependent manner. The blood pressure of OVX rats was significantly increased, and KMK improved the blood pressure levels. These findings suggest that KMK might be useful for treatment of the menopausal syndrome, and it is considered that the improvements induced by KMK are due to other actions, such as normalization of the central nervous system, rather than sex hormones.
Shimamura
M
M
Kampo Research Laboratories, Kanebo, Ltd., Osaka, Japan.
Nishizawa
K
K
Yamashita
A
A
D000818:Animals; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010052:Ovariectomy; D010053:Ovary / Q000502:physiology*; D017288:Pain Threshold / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal