Protective Effect of the Gastrodiae Rhizoma-gamibang on the Scopolamine-induced Hippocampal Damage in Sprague-Dawley Rats

Abstract

Objectives : This study investigated the neuroprotective effect of Gastodia Rhizoma-gamibang (GG) water extracts against scopolamine-induced neurotoxicity in the hippocampus of male Sprague-Dawley rats. Methods : The animals were divided into five different groups with six a nimals per each group. The normal group (Nor) was administered with saline, while the control gro up (Con) was administered with saline after scopolamine treatment. The experimental group (Exp) was administered orally GG extracts at doses of 200 ㎎/㎏ (GG1 group), 400 ㎎/㎏ (GG2 group), 1000 ㎎/㎏ (GG5 group) for 30 day after scopolamine treatment. Results : From a light microscopy study, the nuclei of neurons and glial cells in the hippocampus were more shrunken or condensed in the 30 day control group compared with normal group. In the experimental groups, proportional to the dose, recovered from neurotoxicity induced by scopolamine. The control group, the density of hippocampal neurons were reduced 17-20% compared to normal group. The densities of neurons from the CA1, and CA3 area of the hippocampus in the GG1, GG2 and GG5 groups significantly increased compared with the Con. In the experimental group, neuronal cells are recovered from scopolamine-induced damage. A number of glial cells are observed increase from GG2 and GG5 groups. The PAS-positive materials in the tissues hippocampus), was lower in the Exp than the Con. Conclusions : The present study demonstrates that Gastodia Rhizoma-gamibang extract reduces neuronal damage in the hippocampus of scopolamin-induced impairment mice.