The Effects of Tongkwansan on the Changes of Granulocytes and Nasal Tissue in Allergic Rhinitis Mouse Model

통관산(通關散)이 알레르기성 비염 동물 모델의 과립구 및 조직학적 변화에 미치는 영향

Background & Objectives : Rhinitis is an inflammation of nasal mucosa and the symtoms are watery rhinorrhea, sneezing, itchy nose, and nasal obstruction. Rhinitis is classified into allergic rhinitis and nonallergic. Allergic rhinitis is an immune reaction by allergen, and vasomotor rhinitis which is nonallergic noninfectious hypersensitive reaction. The incidence of allergic rhinitis has increased and the rate of vasomotor rhinitis is high. However there have been no studies about vasomotor rhinitis compared with allergic rhinitis. And there have been no studies so far performed on the effect of Tongkwansan. Therefore this study is aimed to find out the effects of Tongkwansan on allergic rhinitis and vasomotor rhinitis. Materials and Methods : Fifteen BALC/c mouses divided into three groups : normal group, control group and sample group. To induce the allergic rhinitis in control group and sample group, mouses were sensitized intrapertioneally 0.1 % ovalvumin solution three times at intervals of 1 week. Then intranasal sensitization was performed by diffusing 0.1 % ovalbumin solution 3 times at intervals of 2 days. After that time, mouses in the sample group were oral and administration treated by Tongkwansan for 28 days. We observed changes in nasal mucosa and submucosa; also changes in the segment of leucocyte, erythrocyte, neutrophil, lymphocyte, monocyte, eosinophil, IL-4 and $IFN-{\gamma}$ in blood. We used the statistical methods of ANOVA test(p<0.05). Results : There were no significant changes statistically in leucocyte, erythrocyte, neutrophil, lymphocytem, monocyte, eosinophil, IL-4 and $IFN-{\gamma}$ in blood(p<0.05). Hypertrophy of epithelium in nasal mucosa and expansion of glandular cells in nasal submucosa were decreased in treated group when compared with control group. Conclusion : According to above results, it is supposed that Tongkwansan has significant effects on vasomotor rhinitis which is nonallergic and noninfectious.