Histological Investigation of the Appetite Center in Ginseng-administered Mice

ABSTRACT

Tremendous studies have been accumulated on the tonic effects of the ginseng to date. They are temporary effects on the heart, blood, kidney, liver, spleen etc. during the ginseng-administered period. After this period, however, theses transient effects were completely abolished soon or later. Time-honored continuous tonic effects of ginseng remained mystic. In 1975, author reaffirmed histological changes on the ventromedial nuclei of the appetite center resulting voracious appetite and weight-gain in gold-thioglucose injected mice. It was evident that "the irreversible tissue changes" could explain "continuous" effects on the appetite and weight-gain. This study was performed to observe whether ginseng evokes histological changes on the appetite center of the hypothalamus or not. Materials and Method: A total of 53 albino mice of both sexes were fed with commercial rodent feed; 12 out of 53 were fed contrast group, 13 were fed adding 1% of ginseng powder for 4 weeks; 14, 2% and the other 14, 4% respectively. All of experimental groups were fed with rodent feed not containing ginseng for further 8 weeks until sacrificed. Results: Group fed roden feed with 2% ginseng powder showed weight-gain in comparision with the other groups. The difference of body weight, however, gradually decreased and became slight at the end of 8 weeks. Macro-and microscopically, there was no significant histological change between the each group although some questionable increase or decrease of diffuse hypothalamic cell groups including both feeding and satiety centers. Conclusion: The significant histological change did not develop on the appetite center with administration of the ginseng powder for 4 weeks in the mice.