Effect of Korean Red Ginseng on Vaginal Blood Flow and Structure in Hypercholesterolemic Female Rats / 대한남성과학회지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The aims of this study were to investigate the effects of Korean Red Ginseng(KRG) on vaginal blood flow and histological changes in a hypercholesterolemic female rat model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into two groups: the control(n=20) and the hypercholesterolemia(n=40). Hypercholesterolemia group was fed a high fat diet(2% cholesterol, 1% cholic acid, 5% coconut oil) for 12 weeks. The hypercholesterolemia group was further divided into the vehicle only and the KRG treatment(50 mg/kg/day) groups. After 4 and 8 weeks of treatment, vaginal blood flow was measured by a laser Doppler flowmeter. Vaginal tissues were processed for histology and Western blot. RESULTS: After 4 and 8 weeks of treatment, serum cholesterol levels(mg/dl) were significantly increased in the hypercholesterolemia group(1185.0+/-736.1, 934.3+/-212.3) compared with the control group(69.7+/-19.5, 67.1+/-7.2), and partially decreased in KRG treatment group(688.2+/-251.5, 694.2+/-150.4), respectively. Vaginal blood flow(ml/min/100 g tissue) after pelvic nerve stimulation was lower in the hypercholesterolemia group(17.3+/-7.9, 17.9+/-5.5) compared with the control group(27.3+/-17.1, 26.9+/-16.4), however, the KRG treatment group(29.5+/-10.3, 27.4+/-11.1) was as high as the control group, respectively. The expressions of TGF-beta1 tended to increase in the vagina of the hypercholesterolemia animals compared to those of the control and the KRG treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS: KRG treatment in hypercholesterolemic female rats decreased serum cholesterol levels and improved vaginal blood flow. These results suggest that KRG treatment may have a beneficial effect in women's sexual health.