Abstract
Objectives: Sanjointang has been clinically used much for treating sleeplessness. However, the effects of Sanjointang in artificial sleep deprivation situations are not known. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the heart rate, left ventricular systolic pressure, left ventricular diastolic pressure, +dp/dt maximum, -dp/dt maximum, and -dp/dt / +dp/dt ratio which are related to the hemodynamic functions of the heart by using sleep-deprived Sparague-Dawley rats, in order to clarify the impact of Sanjointang on hemodynamic functions of the heart of sleep deprived rats. Methods: Eighteen hearts were removed from the male Sparague-Dawley rats weighting about 180g were perfused by the Langendorff technique with modified 37 Krebs-Henseleit's buffer solution at a constant perfusion pressure (60mmHg). They were randomly assigned to one of the following three groups, 1) Normal group (those which did not have sleep deprivation and received normal saline administration), 2) Control group (sleep deprived and normal saline administered), 3) Sample group (sleep deprived and Sanjointang was administered). Control and sample groups rats were deprived 96 hours of sleep by using the modified multiple platform technique. Heart rate, left ventricular systolic pressure, left ventricular diastolic pressure, +dp/dt maximum, -dp/dt maximum, -dp/dt / +dp/dt ratio were evaluated at baseline after the administration of either normal saline or Sanjointang. Results: The heart rate and -dp/dt / +dp/dt ratio was significantly decreased in rats with 96 hours of sleep deprived significantly decreased. The change in the heart rate after administering Sanjointang did not show any significant difference. The left ventricular systolic pressure of the removed heart significantly decreased due to Sanjointang administration, while the left ventricular diastolic pressure significantly increased (p<0.05). The +dp/dt maximum and -dp/dt maximum both significantly decreased in the removed heart after administering Sanjointang. (p<0.05). There was no significant difference observed in the -dp/dt / +dp/dt ratio after administering Sanjointang. Conclusions: According to the results above, sleep deprivation significantly decreases heart rate and -dp/dt / +dp/dt ratio. This is considered as a result of exhaustion due to accumulation of fatigue. Meanwhile, Sanjointang reduced left ventricular systolic pressure and raised left ventricular diastolic pressure, and relieved the contractility and relaxation of the myocardium. Consequently, this reduces the burden of the heart and creates a relatively stabilized heart condition similar to a sleeping condition.
