Objective: To study whether ginsenoside (GS) can regulate the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) in mice with ischemic liver damage, and to preliminarily observe its dose-effect relationship for providing an experimental bases in seeking a new way to relieve the damage from view of GR.
Methods: Adult male SD mouse was used to establish liver ischemia model, and different doses (100, 50, and 25 mg/kg) of GS was given via gastric infusion before modeling. The maximal GR binding capacity (Bmax) of liver and the level of GR mRNA expression in liver were dynamically determined at various time points (2 h, 6 h, 12 h and 24 h) after modeling.
Results: Compared with the normal control group, GR Bmax and GR mRNA expression in model rats were lower obviously (P < 0.01). As compared with the control group, GR Bmax and GR mRNA expression in model rats treated with 50 mg/kg GS significantly raised at 2 h, 6 h, 12 h (P < 0.01), while the changes in modeling rats treated with other two doses of GS were of no statistical significance.
Conclusion: GS in dose of 50 mg/kg can elevate the GR Bmax of liver and the level of GR mRNA expression in liver of rats with ischemic damage.