[Effects of ginsenosides extracted from ginseng stem and leaves on glucocorticoid receptor in different viscera in heat-damaged rats].
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.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Li
Min
M
Department of Military Hygiene, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China. lilimin115@hotmail.com
Ling
Chang-Quan
CQ
Huang
Xue-Qiang
XQ
Shen
Zhi-Lei
ZL
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D036145:Ginsenosides / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018882:Heat Stress Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D005894:Panax / Q000737:chemistry*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D018547:Plant Stems / Q000737:chemistry; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000378:metabolism
D036145:Ginsenosides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid