EFFECTS OF ADMINISTERING TU-CHUNG EXTRACT ON THE GONADAL AND ADRENAL SYSTEM IN RATS DURING EXERCIS

This study examined the secretion capacity of the gonadal and adrenal cortex systems and the morphology of the adrenal cortex in male rats treated with Tu-chung (Eucommia ulmoides OLIV) extract, the main component of Tu-chung extract, geniposide, or both agents during exercise load testing. Twenty-four 4-week-old male Wistar rats were used. The rats were divided into four groups : those treated with Tu-chung extract and geniposide (n=7), those treated with Tu-chung extract (n=6), those treated with geniposide (n=7) and a control group treated with distilled water. The dose of each agent was 0.1 ml/100g body weight. The agents were administered orally for 25 days. For the exercise load test, a treadmill for small animals was used, with a tilting angle set at 0. Exercise load testing was performed for 30 min (2-min warm up and 28-min running) daily for 25 days. The running speed was 20 m/min for the first 5 days, and then increased by 5 m/min every 5 days. The following results were obtained. 1. The relative weight of the adrenal gland (gland weight/100 g body weight) in the group treated with Tu-chung extract and geniposide was significantly higher than that in the group treated with geniposide or the control group (p