Abstract
Central fatigue, which is neuromuscular dysfunction associated with neurochemical alterations, is an important clinical issue related to pathologic fatigue. This study aimed to investigate the anti-central fatigue effect of Korean red ginseng (KRG) and its underlying mechanism. Male BALB/c mice (8 weeks old) were subjected to periodic sleep deprivation (SD) for 6 cycles (forced wakefulness for 2 days + 1 normal day per cycle). Simultaneously, the mice were administered KRG (0, 100, 200, or 400 mg/kg) or ascorbic acid (100 mg/kg). After all cycles, the rotarod and grip strength tests were performed, and then the changes regarding stress- and neurotransmitter-related parameters in serum and brain tissue were evaluated. Six cycles of SD notably deteriorated exercise performance in both the rotarod and grip strength tests, while KRG administration significantly ameliorated these alterations. KRG also significantly attenuated the SD-induced depletion of serum corticosterone. The levels of main neurotransmitters related to the sleep/wake cycle were markedly altered (serotonin was overproduced while dopamine levels were decreased) by SD, and KRG significantly attenuated these alterations through relevant molecules including brain-derived neurotropic factor and serotonin transporter. This study demonstrated the anti-fatigue effects of KRG in an SD mouse model, indicating the clinical relevance of KRG.
Highlights
Fatigue is both a physiological defense response and a disease-associated symptom; it is a common complaint in both the general population and patients with various disorders [1]
Based on the preliminary results (Figure 2B), we assessed the performance of the mice in the rotarod and grip strength test to evaluate the antifatigue effects of Korean red ginseng (KRG)
We investigated the anti-fatigue effects of KRG and obtained positive results, as described above
Summary
Fatigue is both a physiological defense response and a disease-associated symptom; it is a common complaint in both the general population and patients with various disorders [1]. Chronic fatigue is the main fatigue-related issue in the clinic, and its prevalence is approximately. Central fatigue is a neuromuscular dysfunction, a notable feature of chronic fatigue, that is caused by biochemical alterations in the brain [5]. Unlike peripheral fatigue, which is caused by energy-associated disturbances, mainly in muscles, central fatigue results from dysfunction of synaptic transmission in the central nervous system (CNS) [6]. Prolonged sleep disturbance and chronic stress are presumed to be inducers of central fatigue and are major symptoms of pathologic central fatigue and
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