Effect of Daekumeumja Herb-acupuncture on c-Fos Expression in Hippocampus of Alcohol Intoxicated Rats

대금음자 약침이 알코올 독성 흰쥐의 해마에서 c-Fos 발현에 미치는 영향

Objectives : The study was conducted to investigate the effect of Deakumeumja herb-acupuncture on c-Fos expression in each area of the hippocampus of Alcohol intoxicated rats. Methods : Experimental groups were divided into five groups ; normal group, the alcohol-treated (control) group, the alcohol- 1 mg/kg Daekumeumja treated (sample A) group, the alcohol- 5 mg/kg Daekumeumja treated (sample B) group, the alcohol- 10 mg/kg Daekumeumja treated (sample C) group (n = 6 for each group). Rats of normal group were injected intraperitoneally with saline once a day for 5 consecutive days, while animals of the alcohol-treated (control) group were injected once a day with 2 g/kg of alcohol for the same duration of time. Animals of the alcohol and Daekumeumja-treated (sample A, B, C) groups were acupunctured at Chung-wan$(CV_{12})$ with 2 g/kg of alcohol and the appropriate amount of Daekumeumja extract once a day for 5 days. Each groups was evaluated by the changes of c-fos-positive neurons in each area of the hippocampus by using an image analyzer and microscope. Results: 1. In the CAI region of the hippocampus, the number of Fos-positive cells in the sample B, C groups were significantly increased compared with the control group. 2. In the CA2-3 regions of the hippocampus, the number of Fos-positive cells of the sample B, C groups were significantly increased compared with the control group. 3. In the Dentate gyrus region of the hippocampus, the number of Fos-positive cells of the sample C group was significantly increased compared with the control group. Conclusion : c-fos expression in each area of the hippocampus was reduced in alcohol-intoxicated groups. Treatment of Daekumeumja increased this reduction. In conclusion, it can be suggested that Daedumeumja possesses protective effects of the amnesia and learning disability in alcoholism.