Abstract:
The effect of ginsenoside Rb
1 has been studied on sexual deficiencies induced by repeated hanging stress. Male mice were stressed by hanging once daily(9∶00 am~2∶00 pm) for 10 days(1~3 day hung for 2 h, 4~6 day hung for 3 h, 7~9 day hung for 4 h, 10~11 day hung for 5 h). On day 10, they were exposed to female mice treated with estradiol and progestone and their sexual benaviors (licking, mounting, mating) were assessed at 7∶00~9∶00 pm. The repeated hanging stress was found to reduce sexual behaviors and decrease plasma testosterone level in mice. Treatments with ginsenoside Rb
1(2.5,5,10 mg·kg
-1,ip) 30 min before each stress prevented the repeated stressinduced sexual deficiencies and raised plasma testosterone level. The mechanism of the protective action of ginsenoside Rb
1 may be attributed to its action in maintaining normal plasma tesosterone level.