Effects of Ginseng Total Saponin on Caffeine-induced Stimulation of Locomotor Activity and the Related Brain Catecholamine Contents in Mice

인삼사포닌이 생쥐에 있어서 카페인으로 유도된 보행활동과 뇌 카테콜아민 함량에 미치는 영향

This study was undertaken to investigate the effect of ginseng total sapoin (GTS) on locomotor activity that had been increased by caffeine. Catecholamines, noradrenaline and dopamine, possible mediators for the locomotor activity, were measllred in the mouse whole brain, cortex and the re- mainder. The locomotor activity was measured in circlllar activity cages equipped with six light sources and photocells. The catecholamine contents in the mollse brain were determined by HPLC-fluorescence detection. GTS (50 and 100 mg/kg) reduced the increased locomotor activity by caffeine (25 mg/kg) dose-devendently. Caffeine increased the norevinephrint and dopamine in mouse whole brain and cortex dose-dependently. GTS reduced the norevinevhrine in the remainder, and reduced the dopamine in the cortex which had been increased by caffeine.