인삼이 Adrenaline 투여로서 발생된 각장기의 변화에 미치는 영향에 관한 실험적 연구

Abstract

[한글]

[영문]

Early in 1903, Josue called attention on the resemblance of human

arteriosclerosis to the lesions he produced in the rabbits by repeated injection of

adrenaline 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 diphtheric toxin,

tyramine and other vasotonic subsatnces can also produce similar medial changes as

in adrenaline injection. Interests in this field continued since the medial changes

were very similar to socalled idiopathic cystic medial necrosis seen in human arota

which are often associated with dissecting aneurysm.

The interest in the effect of Ginseng 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 Ginseng, it was the

purpose of this investigator to see the influence of Ginseng on the changes

produced by adrenaline injection by means of pathological evaluation.

Materials and Methods:

Healthy Korean albino rabbits weighing around 2.0Kg. 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 adrenaline into the ear veins

for 8 weeks. 0.1 c.c. during the first week and 0.2c.c. during the remainder.

Regular diet.

Group 3.: 6 animals receiving 2.0gm of Ginseng powder mixed with the diet and

daily saline injection for 4 weeks and daily adrenaline injection for 4 weeks

thereafter.

Group 4.: 6 animals receiving Ginseng powder as well as adrdenaline injection

daily for 8 weeks.

Group 5.: 6 animals receiving daily adrenaline injection for 4 weeks and Ginseng

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 phosphotungstic acid hematoxylin, Periordic Acid Schiff

reaction, Elastic stain in addition to H. & E.

Results and conclusion:

The control animals did not show any abnormalities as expected. The adrenaline

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 to seems 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 of calcium salts was

present.

The animals receiving Ginseng powder with the adrenaline injection also showed

some degenerative effects in the media, however, it s extent and severity were far

less than seen in the animals receiving adrenaline alone. Adrenaline injection also

caused sever panarteritis in the arterioles of myocardium with resultant myocardial

damages. None of the animals receiving Ginseneg showed this phenomenon. Arteriolar

thickening was also observed int e kidneys in the adrenaline injected animals but

not 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

Ginseng acts favorably for the cure and prevention of diffuse medial degeneration

of aorta and other vascular changes in various organs produced by adrenaline

injection. It is regrettable that the exact mechanism(s) for such effect can not be

adequately presented at this time. Perhaps reported effects of Ginseng in lowering

blood pressure might have some connection with such a beneficial effect though it

is purely speculative at this time. Further investigation certainly is wanted.