The Effects of Gammaekdaejo-tang (Ganmaidazao-tang) on Rats Subjected to Stress by Immobilization

감맥대조탕(甘麥大棗湯)이 신체부동 스트레스 백서(白鼠)에 미치는 영향(影響)

Objective : This study was conducted in order to find the effects of Gammaekdaejo-tang (Ganmaidazao-tang, GDT) by subjecting rats to immobilization stress, thereby inducing depression, anxiety and acquisition-retention defects. Method : Rats treated with normal saline, GDT 200mg/kg and GDT 400mg/kg were subjected to stress by immobilization. Afterwards, behavior changes were observed by elevated plus maze test, acquisition test and retention test in the Morris water maze. The results were obtained by immunohistochemically measuring stress hormone (corticosteroid) levels in the blood. Results and Conclusions : 1. The open arm test in the elevated plus maze showed that compared with the normal group, the time spent decreased in the control group and increased in the GDT 400mg/kg group. 2. The locomotor activity test in the elevated plus maze revealed that the control group showed significant activity decrease compared with the normal group but significant increase in the GDT 400mg/kg group. 3. The acquisition test in the Morris water maze showed that the acquisitive ability of the control group significantly deteriorated on the 3rd and 4th day compared with the normal group, but improved significantly in the GDT 200mg/kg and GDT 400mg/kg groups. 4. The retention test on the 7th day in the Morris water maze revealed that the retentive ability of the control group significantly deteriorated compared with the normal group, but the retentive ability of the GDT 400mg/kg group significantly improved. 5. The blood levels of corticosteroid in the control group increased significantly compared with the normal group but the levels of corticosterone in the blood of the GDT 400mg/kg group significantly decreased.