The Effects of Nokyongsageunhwan Herbal Acupuncture and Oral Administration on the Growth and the Intellectual Development of Rats

녹용사근환약침(鹿茸四斤丸藥鍼) 및 경구투여(經口投與)가 흰쥐의 성장(成長)과 지능발달(知能發達)에 미치는 영향(影響)

Objective: This study was designed to investigate effects of Nokyongsageunhwan and Nokyongsageunhwan aquapuncuture on body weight, body length, intellectual development Methods: We observed body weight, body length, intellectual development after feeding Nokyongsageunhwan and Nokyongsageunhwan aquapuncuture for thirty three days, and mRNA expressions of GHRF, Somatostatin, IGF-1, NPY were analyzed by RT-PCR method. Results: The results were summarized as follows. 1. Body length was significantly increased in Nokyongsageunhwan herbal acupuncture group compared to normal group and normal saline injection group on 4th week, 2. Lower part of hind leg length was significantly increased in Nokyongsageunhwan oral administration group compared to normal group on 3rd week, and it was significantly increased in Nokyongsageunhwan herbal acupuncture group and Nokyongsageunhwan oral administration group compared to that of normal group on 4th week. 3. As results of observing memory aquisition using Morris water maze system, there was significantly difference in Nokyongsageunhwan oral administration group compared to that of normal group on 4th week. 4. As results of observing retention using Morris water maze system, staying time was significantly increased in Nokyongsageunhwan herbal acupuncture group compared to that of normal group. 5. The somatostatin mRNA expression in the hypothalamus was significantly decreased in Nokyongsageunhwan oral administration group compared to that of normal group. 6. The IGF-1 mRNA expression in the hypothalamus is significantly increased in Nokyongsageunhwan herbal acupuncture group and Nokyongsageunhwan oral administration group compared to that of normal group. 7. The NPY mRNA expression in the hypothalamus was significantly increased in Nokyongsageunhwan oral administration group compared to that of normal group, and it was increased in Nokyongsageunhwan herbal acupuncture group compared to that of normal group, but there was no significant difference. Conclusions: According to the above results, it appears that Nokyongsageunhwan oral administration and Nokyongsageunhwan herbal acupuncture on acupoint GB34 and GB39 showed effects on the growth and the intellectual development of rats.